Meet Our Team

As the Alumni Engagement Manager at the American Indian Graduate Center, Antonia is determined to identify, cultivate, and reinforce individual partnerships to expand the scope of financial support opportunities for Native students.

Antonia is a citizen of the Kiowa Tribe with ancestry from the Pawnee, Navajo, and Choctaw Nations. She is actively involved in her tribal traditions, the Kiowa language revitalization program, and the traditional ceremonies in which she was raised. Antonia is loyal to the value of community and enthusiastically serves on the Indigenous Community Engagement Board for CS-INCLUDES (Computer Science Indigenous Community of Learners United to Develop, Excel, Succeed) at The University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic Behavioral Health Advisory Council.

Prior to joining the Development Team under Strategic Partnerships, Antonia served as Coordinator of American Indian Programs and Services at The University of Oklahoma. In this role, Antonia was an advisor to the American Indian Student Association and the AT&T Native Scholars Program. She implemented programmatic strategies that enhanced the visibility of tribal nations on campus, increased cultural competency in students, staff, and faculty, and led Indigenous student efforts in promoting their identity. Antonia also worked as a representative for the Cherokee Nation, where she helped implement and enforce the Indian Child Welfare Act in various state courts across the U.S. She attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2015 and continues to create artwork while pursuing her mission in the advancement of Indigenous students.

The increasing need for sound cultural competency and effective communication on rapidly changing circumstances of Indigenous people has motivated Antonia to continue building individual strategies to improve her approach to professional and personal experiences. Through her work in multiple capacities and life experiences, she promotes a vision to elevate Indigenous people now and leave an impact for future generations.

Antonia enjoys spending her spare time with her partner Jay, creating art, speaking her language, traveling, and sharing space with her family and friends.