Dr. Joely Proudfit, Ph.D., a Luiseño/Payómkawichum and Tongva scholar, activist, and media maker, is a nationally respected leader in California Indian education, equity, and representation. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science, with a focus on public policy and American Indian studies from Northern Arizona University, as well as a B.A. in political science from California State University Long Beach.

As a full professor, Dr. Proudfit has been tenured three times within the California State University (CSU) system. Her leadership is exemplified in her roles as the founding Department Chair of the American Indian Studies Department and Director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center at California State University San Marcos, highlighting her commitment to creating educational spaces that honor and advance Indigenous knowledge and traditions.

Dr. Proudfit’s research addresses decolonization, media representations of American Indians, tribal sovereignty, and the creation of culturally responsive curricula. She has spearheaded groundbreaking annual reports on American Indian and Alaskan Native Education in California and Proudfit along with Dr. Warner are the series editors of a ten (10) book contract with Information Age Publishing, Charlotte, NC. The books address American Indian education through the lens of ten different regions throughout the U.S. The first book published in 2017 focuses on California. On Indian Ground-: A Return to Indigenous Knowledge—Generating Hope, Leadership and Sovereignty through Education. Dr. Proudfit is author of the forthcoming book titled Beyond the American Indian Stereotype: There’s More to Me Than What You See.

Appointed by President Barack Obama on 2016 to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) and in 2021 by Governor Gavin Newsom as the first Indigenous woman on the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, she has significantly impacted policy at national and state levels. Her service has been recognized with several awards, including the American Indian Educator of the Year, the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Award for Outstanding Public Service, and in 2022 Variety Magazine named her Educator of the Year.

In media, Dr. Proudfit’s influence extends to her founding and serving as the Executive Director of California’s American Indian & Indigenous Film Festival. As President and Owner of Native Media Strategies, LLC, she is dedicated to fostering inclusive strategies for media and entertainment professionals. Her recent work on the Netflix series Spirit Rangers has garnered 7 Emmy nominations.

Dr. Proudfit demonstrates a strong dedication sovereignty and in service to the American Indian peoples through diverse roles, including her work as a campaign spokesperson for statewide California initiatives such as Proposition 1A (1998) and Proposition 5 (2001). She serves on numerous boards and committees, notably as Vice Chair for the Native American Caucus of the California Democratic Party, Board Chair of the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, Board Chair for Vision Maker Media, Board Member to the Rock and Soul Forever Foundation/TeachRock, Member of the State of California American Indian Educator Oversight Committee, Member of the Leadership Council for the CSU AIS/NAS Disciplinary Caucus, and Indigenous co-chair for Women of Color Unite (WOCU), a collective of over 5,000 women dedicated to addressing inequities within the entertainment and media industries.

Her relentless advocacy for educational equity and dedication to incorporating authentic California Indian voices and histories into the state curriculum have established her as a crucial leader and advocate for California Indian education and representation. Her vision and unwavering dedication continue to inspire and enact meaningful change in education and beyond.