Mai Nguyen serves as the Associate Director of Policy, Research, and Tribal Governance at IFAI, leading policy analysis, research, education, and outreach. Mai is passionate to advancing Tribal sovereignty and developing pragmatic, Native-led policy solutions. Prior to IFAI, Mai served as the Policy Director at the Intertribal Agriculture Council where she advocated for Tribal priorities in food and agriculture in Congress and the Administration. Mai also previously served as a Policy Advisor for Congressman Derek Kilmer (WA-06), covering a diverse policy portfolio including Tribal affairs, agriculture, healthcare, appropriations, public lands, and rural economic development. Several of the bills Mai worked on for Tribal nations have been signed into law or passed the House of Representatives.

Mai earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Princeton University and trained as neuroscientist before making a career change into policy. She currently resides in Southern California.