Board of Directors

The Southwest Native American Foundation's staff and board of directors is comprised of many dedicated volunteers. Our team cares deeply about the educational opportunities we strive to provide. The fact that none of us receive a salary means that 100% of donations made to SWNAF go directly to our scholars.

Brian Buckley

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Brian is the third of four children of Catherine and Paul Buckley. His parents’ commitment to their children’s education has led Brian down many wondrous paths. A graduate of Harvard College, he has since taught in Brooklyn, New York as New York City public school teacher; in Udon Thani, Thailand as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer; and in Page and Leupp, Arizona as a Northern Arizona Peace Corps Fellow. From 1999 to 2001, Brian served as a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University with Dr. Robert Coles for the class, The Literature of Social Reflection, where he received the Derek Bok Award for Distinguished Teaching. He has also received graduate degrees from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and the University of Massachusetts. Brian also serves on the Board for the SNAP Foundation based in Rochester, NY and the Americas Latino Festival based in Boulder, CO.  

Genevieve Bennally

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR & BOARD MEMBER
Genevieve Bennally is of the Towering House Clan, born for the Red Streak Through the Water Clan. Her maternal grandparents are Black Streak Through the Wood Clan, and her paternal grandparents are the Edgewater Clan. She was born and raised in Page, Arizona where she graduated from Page High School in 2002. Currently, she is a Junior at Northern Arizona University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Math. Her interests include an array of activities, from the outdoors to spending quality time with family. She enjoys reading a good book and spending hours over the hot stove for a great meal!

Ashley Holiday

BOARD MEMBER
Ashley Holiday is a Board member of Southwest Native-American Foundation (SWNAF) and a former scholarship recipient. She has a B.S. in Biology with a Biomedical Emphasis and Minor in Health Psychology from Dixie State University (DSU). Prior to joining SWNAF, Ashley has been actively involved on the DSU campus through student-based organizations that place emphasis on both Multiculturalism and Science/Technology. She served as a council member within the Multicultural & Inclusion Center where her essential goal was to improve inclusive training throughout campus. Ashley also assumed the role of Biology Senator within the Dixie State University Student Association which allowed her to actively assist research students in need of funding within the College of Science and Technology. Additionally, she participated in the Rural Health Scholars Organization where she not only attended a medical volunteer mission in Nicaragua but the Dominican Republic as well. In 2017, Ashley became the title holder of Miss Native Dixie; During her one year reign, she had the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for Native students to increase the overall Native population on DSU campus. As a current Pre-Med student, Ashley dedicates her time between working and studying to spending quality time with her family and embarking on outdoor adventures. ​

Yadira Caballero

​BOARD MEMBER
​Yadira Caballero is of the Lók’aa’ Dine’é (Reed People Clan), born for the Naakaii (Mexican). Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Naasht’ézhí Tábąąhá (Zuni Edge Water Clan), and her paternal grandfather is Naakaii (Mexican). Yadira’s maternal family is from Yaaitiin on the Navajo Nation, and her paternal family is from Guanajuato, Mexico. She is originally from Bidáá’ Ha’azt’i’ Tsékooh (Grand Canyon). Yadira holds a Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law from the University of Tulsa and a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Economics and Management from the University of Arizona. She is a Program Manager at the Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry, University of Arizona. Outside of her professional work, Yadira values quality time with her family, particularly her daughter, and enjoys being outdoors, including hiking and exploring nature.

Mowana ​Lomaomvaya

BOARD MEMBER
​​Mowana L. Lomaomvaya is a member of the Hopi Tribe from the village of Hotevilla. She earned a Bachelor and Master of Arts in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology from Northern Arizona University, and a Master of Legal Studies with a concentration in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy from The University of Arizona. She is the Assistant Archivist for Indigenous Initiatives and Cultures at Northern Arizona University’s Cline Library. Lomaomvaya specializes in examining the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and related repatriation policies and implementation. She focuses on the analysis of the evolution of NAGPRA since 1990 and movements toward decolonizing and indigenizing archaeology. In her legal degree studies, Lomaomvaya has focused on a variety of issues affecting Indigenous peoples, including diminishing tribal sovereignty and self-determination, rights of Indigenous peoples according to UNDRIP, and analyzing tribal courts systems. Her research and career are focused through her perspective as a Hopi person with close ties to her ancestors and ancestral homelands. Her connection to her culture and identity is a driving force for her dedication and passion in analyzing issues affecting Indigenous communities and care of their ancestral spaces.

​Josh Lucio

BOARD MEMBER
Josh Lucio is Zuni Pueblo from Zuni, New Mexico and a National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIE) 40 Under 40 recipient. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Arizona and earned an Executive Master’s of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico. 
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Josh is a licensed financial professional teaching financial literacy to Native American families and started his own business, TrueNorth Financial. Prior to becoming a business owner, he worked for Native Forward as the Scholarship Operations Manager and the Education Coordinator for the Pueblo of Zuni Tribal Scholarship program. In addition, Josh served a number of years as a Reader for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, a former member with the Pueblo of Laguna Investment Committee, a board member of College Horizons and Graduate Horizons, Inc., and former Chairman with the New Mexico Tribal Higher Education Commission. He currently volunteers his time serving on the board of directors for The Southwest Native American Foundation, and as the Treasurer for the Colorado Plateau Foundation. Josh enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with his daughters