The Tribal Services and Solutions Project is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026-27 TSSP Fellowship. TSSP fellowships are awarded to recent Dartmouth graduates to support projects of 9-12 months duration working with tribal nations, or organizations or government units whose primary mission is to advance the interests of tribal nations and Native Peoples. TSSP internships are awarded in similar contexts to current students for projects of 1-term duration. In both cases, projects must be oriented around three critical areas of renewal in Native American and Indigenous communities: (1) Entrepreneurship & Economic Development; (2) Health Care and Public Health Innovation; (3) Inter-governmental Relations and Policy (among tribal, state, and federal governments).
PERCILIANA MOQUINO (Cochiti & Kewa Pueblos) ‘26
Perciliana will spend the next year working with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, Education Team. Through litigation, legislative advocacy, coalition building, and community engagement, the NMCLP Education Team works at the intersection of tribal, state, and federal governmental systems to ensure that public institutions meet their legal obligations to support and advance Indigenous languages and overall equitable education for Native Americans (and other learners) pursuant to the landmark Yazzie/Martinez v. State of New Mexico case. Her work with the NMCLP Education team will particularly focus on intergovernmental education initiatives that affect Native American students and tribal education systems. Her fellowship supervisor will be Melissa Candelaria, Education Director at NMCLP.
NEENA SHELL (Navajo) ‘26
Neena’s fellowship will allow her to work with the Navajo Nation Washington DC Office, a principal point of engagement between the Navajo Nation and the United States and an extension of the Office of the Navajo Nation President, Vice President and Navajo Nation Council. Her portfolio will mirror those of the Government and Legislative Associates and will include education, missing and murdered Indigenous Peoples, and water rights. Her fellowship supervisor will be attorney Vince Redhouse, Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office.
NICOLE ANN VILLAGOMEZ (Chamorro) ’26
Nicole will spend her fellowship year working with the Congressional Office of Representative Kimberlyn King-Hinds, the Delegate to the Northern Mariana Islands District. As a full-time Congressional Fellow working primarily in the Saipan District Office, her primary role as a policy research assistant will involve researching and advancing policy initiatives that strengthen the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)’s Indigenous communities, territorial governance, and economic development. Her fellowship supervisors will include Matthew Deleon Guerrero, Senior Policy Advisor to Congresswoman King-Hinds, and Herb Yamada, Chief of Staff to Congresswoman King-Hinds.
RHETT WILLIAMS (United Houma Nation) ‘26
Rhett’s fellowship will allow him to work with the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY), a national education and advocacy organization within the renowned Aspen Institute. Working with CNAY staff, he will assist in the development and implementation of a Native Youth Sovereignty Institute, an initiative aimed at preparing the next generation of tribal leaders through instruction in best practices in inter-governmental relations among tribal nations, the states, and the federal government. His fellowship supervisor will be Christina Kracher, CNAY’s Director for Policy and Strategic Initiatives.