Brandi Russell

She/Her/Hers

Brandi lives in Longmont and is the daughter of Tina Russell, granddaughter of Daryl (KC) Russell. She is a proud citizen of the Khul Wíčhaša Oyáte (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe) and has lineage to the Húŋkpati Oyáte (Crow Creek Sioux Tribe) but spent her childhood on the Sicangu Oyánke (Rosebud Sioux Reservation). She holds Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University, and is currently enrolled in the Lakota Studies program at Sinte Gleska University and has taken classes at The University of Oklahoma College of Law in the Indigenous Peoples Law Program.

Brandi comes from a family who has devoted their lives to serving our Native communities in the Plains, in both Tribal and Federal government, and she mirrors their passion and value for sovereignty and decolonial approaches, preservation of tradition and generational knowledge, and creating space for our Relatives to call home. She hopes to bring her lived experience and cultural knowledge to this role to expand opportunities for Native and Indigenous students to find and build community.

In her spare time, Brandi loves to practice her traditional beadwork skills, read (she would love any and all recommendations!), spend time outside, and gush over cute pictures and videos of her dog, Roxy, sent by her mom.