Dr. Joely Proudfit, currently serves as an Associate Professor of Public Administration at California State University, San Bernardino. Dr. Proudfit previously served as the Department Chair and Professor of the American Indian Studies Department at San Francisco State University, and is only the second person in the 35 year old department to receive tenure.
Dr. Proudfit holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science with emphasis in Public Policy and American Indian Studies from Northern Arizona University and a B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Law from California State University, Long Beach.
In addition to her academic positions, Dr. Proudfit also served as the Special Advisor to the Honorable Cruz M. Bustamante Lieutenant Governor of California for California Indian Sovereign Nations in 2002. Dr. Proudfit is also a lecturer of American Politics for the Department of Political Science at the University of San Diego.
Dr. Proudfit is a descendant of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians. Her maternal grandmothers are Lupe Grijalva Guerrero, Refugia Flores Grijalva Zuniga, Candelaria Flores and Juana Hapish and she is of the Ngeesikat clan.
As the first member of her family to complete a high school diploma, Dr. Proudfit serves as a role model for Native youth and encourages self-determination through knowledge and education. Dr. Proudfit is one of only a few American Indians with a Ph.D. in Political Science and was the first recipient of the American Political Science Association Native Fellows Program.
Dr. Proudfit is extremely knowledgeable in the area of Tribal Gaming, American Indian Federal Law, Government and Policy, Power Studies and Political Development, California Indian Political and Contemporary Issues, Education, Mass Media, Tribal Telecommunications and Social Justice Issues.
Her dissertation focused on Tribal gaming and was entitled, "Interpreting Power: The Power and Politics of Tribal Gaming in Southern California." She has presented her research at numerous conferences and media forums. She has published numerous essays and articles, including "In the Trenches: A Critical Look at the Isolation of American Indian Political Practices in a Non-empirical Social Science," in the book Indigenizing the Academy, "Native American Gaming in California," Congressional Quarterly Press, American Political History Series Native Americans, and "From Activism to Academics: The Evolution of American Indian Studies at San Francisco State 1968-2001," in Indigenous Nations Studies Journal. Dr. Proudfit is currently working on her forthcoming book, published by the University of Texas Press, on American Indian Political Power in the New Millennium.
Dr. Proudfit is the owner and founder of Naqmayam Communications, an independent, full service California Indian owned and operated public relations agency. Naqmayam Communications, aka Naqcom, promotes socially conscious marketing and consumer and cultural education.
Naqcom specializes in building trust between our clients and Native American communities, especially California Indian communities, through grass roots outreach and culturally sensitive media campaigns. Naqcom offers expertise in developing and implementing communication strategies to successfully build consensus and brand loyalty among Native American communities. Naqcom's approach is to bridge the gap between outside communities working with Tribal nations to increase awareness, reinforce positive perceptions and expand revenues. Clients range from non-profits to billion dollar corporations such as Verizon.
Dr. Proudfit serves on numerous boards and committees, such as; Vice Chair for the Native American Caucus of the California Democratic Party, Board Member of the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, Executive Director of the California Indian Professors Association, Advisory Board Members for Senate Bill 41, and Member of the National Congress of American Indians Telecommunications Committee.
In addition, Dr. Proudfit is committed to serving the American Indian community in a number of capacities. She served as a highly visible campaign spokesperson, participating in numerous television ads for both the Proposition 1A - California Constitutional Amendment, Indian Self-Reliance Initiative, and the Proposition 5 - Indian Self-Reliance Initiative. Dr. Proudfit also serves as the Executive Producer for the upcoming documentary entitled, "I is not for Indian," which explores the controversy of how Native American curriculum is taught in our public schools. She has also participated in a number of media venues such as National Public Radio, Television and news specials on issues relating to Tribal gaming, social justice issues, American Indian political development, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation and California Indian issues.
She has testified before state legislators on California Indian education issues and works side by side with tribal leaders and state legislators to implement new legislation to benefit California Indians.
Dr. Proudfit is the recipient of numerous accolades for her work and community service. She has received the California Teachers Association's Salute to Friends of Education Award, the Opportunities Unlimited, 2002 Award, in recognition of dedication and leadership by Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano and California Teachers Association, the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Award for Outstanding Public Service, and recipient of the National Native American Bo Jack Humanitarian Award.
