Kendra Becenti (she/her) is a citizen of the Diné Nation and supports the Indigenous Health Equity Institute as the Decolonizing Academy Program Coordinator. Having been raised in both urban and reservation spaces of New Mexico, her Tsinaajinii (Black Streaked Wood People Clan) identity is at the heart of her advocacy and professional pursuits. Kendra is a graduate of Stanford University where she achieved a dual Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies and Psychology as a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. During her time in undergrad, she was deeply involved with the Stanford Indigenous community as an advocate and leader among her peers and served as co-chair for the Stanford American Indian Organization. Her community organizing work involved raising awareness for issues affecting Indigenous communities, such as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) crisis, increasing Indigenous visibility on campus, and curating community spaces of Indigenous joy. 

Kendra specializes in decolonial and Indigenized research practices. She is proud to have gained this knowledge from working closely with Indigenous matriarch scholars and professionals. Mentor Dr. Stephanie Fryberg helped guide and nourish her passion for Indigenous-led research that advances Indigenous power, collective resilience, and the visibility of Indigenous communities. Kendra has published several works on this topic, including co-authoring a manuscript titled, “Sanitizing history: National identification, negative stereotypes, and support for eliminating Columbus Day and adopting Indigenous Peoples Day.” Kendra also supported promotion, data collection, and evaluation of the 2020 inaugural Indigenous Futures Survey, a first of its kind national survey of Indigenous people in the U.S., and was chosen to present her work at a prestigious national psychology conference. Her professional background also includes program work with the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute and website design.  

With support and love from her family and ancestors, Kendra hopes her current and future work can promote and elevate Indigenous sovereignty, radical resurgence, and healing. In addition to deepening her daily decolonial practice, Kendra finds joy in her yoga practice, live music, and spicy foods!