About Us
Meet Our Team
Erin Parker, J.D., LL.M.
Executive Director
(479) 575-6572
esparker@uark.edu
Carly Griffith Hotvedt, J.D., M.P.A.
Associate Director
(479)575-6572
hotvedt@uark.edu
Cherokee Nation
Brenton Jones
Budget Director
(479) 575-3227
baj005@uark.edu
Joseph Damaso
Policy Liaison
(479) 575 -7513
jdamaso@uark.edu
Kelli Case
Staff Attorney
kellic@uark.edu
Chickasaw Nation
Nikki Young
Office Administrator
(479) 575-5666
any007@uark.edu
Summer Rae Wilkie
Youth Coordinator
(479) 575-3829
swilkie@uark.edu
Cherokee Nation
Mary Belle Zook
Communications Manager
(479)575-5128
mzook@uark.edu
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Cindy J. Ryan
Executive Assistant
(479) 575-5606
cjr023@uark.edu
John VanPool
Director of Policy and Governance
jvanpool@uark.edu
Will Seeley
Tribal Enterprise Specialist
wseeley@uark.edu
Liz Miller
Program Operations Manager
(479) 575-5867
edm003@uark.edu
What We Do
The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) focuses on putting tribal sovereignty in food sovereignty, promoting tribally driven solutions to revitalize and advance traditional food systems and diversified economic development throughout Indian Country. IFAI provides Tribal governments, producers, and food businesses with educational resources, policy research, and strategic legal analysis as a foundation for building robust food economies.
Our work depends on the generous support we receive from the partners listed below.
