Rosa is a Warm Springs tribal member and grew up in both Warm Springs and Portland, Oregon. She comes from very large families on both her mother’s side, Warm Springs, and her father’s side, who is from Michoacan, Mexico. Rosa received her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Eastern Washington University and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Washington. 

Rosa wanted to be part of a team that’s transforming spaces and supporting and uplifting Indigenous communities. Rosa has coordinated cancer control programming with Northwest tribal communities and has worked to support tribal departments and clinics in tribally led cancer control and survivorship activities. Rosa previously worked at NNACOE during its initial launch supporting various program initiatives and is so excited to be back and a part of this important work. In her new role, Rosa supports Native Learners at OHSU, Indigenous faculty and Native health curriculum development.

Rosa comes from a Powwow family and is a fast and fancy shawl dancer. She loves crocheting, playing on her sewing machine and spending quiet evenings listening to books with her partner Josh and miniature blue-heeler Wayne.