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CWI Board of Directors

Shayai Lucero, BS Biology, Minor Chemistry

Shayai Lucero, BS Biology, Minor Chemistry

Board President
Christina Waterman

Christina Waterman

Board Secretary
Dr. Monica Lucero, DOM

Dr. Monica Lucero, DOM

Member
Nicole Johnny

Nicole Johnny

Treasurer

Shayai Lucero, BS Biology, Minor Chemistry

Board President

Pueblo of Acoma/Pueblo of Laguna

She/Her/Hers
Shayai Lucero was born and raised on the reservations of the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna. She is of the Roadrunner clan for her mother and a Turkey Child for her father. In 2008, Shayai graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. It took Shayai 16 years from her high school graduation to finish college, but during that time she was Miss Indian World (1997), worked for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council, and as the Tribal Liaison for Native Visions (a Native American media arts company). Upon graduating from college, Shayai became an entrepreneur with the purchase of a floral shop on the Pueblo of Laguna reservation. She is the owner and an award winning floral designer at Earth & Sky Floral Designs and Gallery.Shayai is a lifelong student of the traditional Pueblo healing methods. She began studying Pueblo traditional medicinal plants when she was 13 years old from her elders and relatives at Acoma and Laguna. She also published a book on the medicinal plants in 1997. In 2005, she received her Certificate in Traditional Mexican Healing. The program was a joint certification with La Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, el Centro de Desarrollo Humano hacia la Communidad, A.C. and the University of New Mexico. When asked to treat clients, Shayai has integrated Curanderismo Medicine with traditional Pueblo healing.Shayai remains active in her community in the promotion of STEM and Woman/Native American Entrepreneurship and as an ally of the LGBTIQ2S Community. She was selected as a "Changemaker" to attend the United State of Women Summit (2016) hosted by The Obama White House. In 2017, Shayai was nominated by Native America Calling producers to become a TEDxABQ speaker. Her speech/video is available online where she discusses how she incorporates traditional Pueblo teachings into issues of patience and tolerance. Shayai has also spoken on Capitol Hill to advocate rural and Native American business concerns and needs to Congressional Leaders. She also is a Sequoyah Fellow for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), where she also was given the lifetime appointment of Elders Helper for the AISES Council of Elders.Shayai and her life partner Aaron Fry currently reside on the Pueblo of Laguna reservation where they are raising their two children, Kaweshchima and Maityaitsa. They live next door to her parents, Cecelia and the late Stanley, and her brother Haitsi.

Christina Waterman

Board Secretary

Christina (Christy) Waterman (Seminole Nation/Muskogee Creek)

Christina (Christy) Waterman is an Early Childhood Education professional and progressive education advocate. After spending several years as a Preschool and School Age Site Director, including positions with the Harry Pregerson Child Care Center in DTLA, the Child Education Center in La Canada, and the Burbank Community YMCA, she began working in the field of Higher education in 2017 with the aim of teaching at the college level to prepare Early Childhood Education professionals. She holds a BA in Psychology from Oklahoma State University and an MA in Child Development from Tufts University. Current areas of research and interest include Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices, Indigenous culture, community and identity, and incorporation of Anti-racist education into early childhood practices. 

Christy grew up in the central Oklahoma city of Shawnee. She is an enrolled tribal member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and also is of Creek (Muskogee) descent. She has worked with various tribal organizations as a student and as an education professional including the Iowa (pronounced I-oh-way) Tribe, Pawnee Nation Indian Child Welfare and Central Tribes of the Shawnee Area which is affiliated with the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Kickapoo and Sac ‘n’ Fox Nations. It is with great pride and honor that she presents herself as a member of a culture rich in history, tradition and resilience.

Dr. Monica Lucero, DOM

Member

Dr. Monica Lucero is a Nationally Certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, and Licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine, that blends the traditional medicine of the Americas with Chinese Medicine.She specializes in Women's health; infertility; pregnancy; pain; PTSD; and mental health. She also practices Chinese, Mesoamerican and New Mexican Herbalism.

Nicole Johnny

Treasurer

Nicole is a member of the Navajo Nation with her clans as Kiyaa'áanii born for Tsi'naajinii, her chei is Tábaahí and her nali is Naashaashi Dine'é. Nicole graduated from Pepperdine University, with an MBA in finance and an undergraduate degree in finance and economics. Her background includes experience working in investment banking with RBC Capital Markets, and tribal land valuations from both a federal and tribal perspective and knowledge of commercial real estate development. Currently, she works for Raven Indigenous Capital Partners and in addition to her current position on the Board with Changing Woman Initiative, she also serves on the Board for Diné Development Corporation and Miss Indian New Mexico, Inc. Nicole values the work that Changing Woman Initiative does to renew cultural birth knowledge and reclaim indigenous birthing practices and traditions for women in our communities.