by Anna (Staff) Rhoads October 24, 2018

Dr. Marla Conwell is an enrolled member of the Chehalis Tribe and previously served as the Language and Culture Program Manager and as the General Manager, in addition to her many years on various sub-committees at Chehalis. She earned her doctorate in Indigenous Development and Advancement focusing on indigenous language revitalization through the Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi in Whakatane, New Zealand. She earned her Masters of Public Administration- Tribal Governance from The Evergreen State College in 2006. 

She currently works for the South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency (SPIPA) as the Family Support Programs Manager. Dr. Conwell is very active in indigenous cedar weaving and has taught regalia making classes at the Evergreen State College for the Reservation-Based Program (currently known as the Native Pathways Program). She currently serves as a board member for the Veterans’ Ecological Trades Collective nonprofit.

Dr. Conwell is standing next to Professor Nathan Mathews (left), former Head of School and Professor Wirimu Doherty (right), Wanaga CEO. They are associated with the Te Wanaga o Professor Awarnuiarangi Graduate School in Wahkatane, New Zealand.