Shadiin Garcia is Laguna Pueblo and Chicana from New Mexico, the heart of Aztlán. She is devoted to her two sons and her sister’s two daughters and has lived in Oregon for 18 years. She has worked for over 20 years as a teacher, as a public school administrator, researcher, a policy analyst, Indigenous education leader, and as a consultant. Across education, philanthropy, advocacy, policy, strategy and leadership, Shadiin works to counteract the systemic inequity created by colonization and has an unrelenting belief that centers the full humanity of all people and children. Shadiin has a bachelor’s degree in English from Yale University as well as two degrees from the University of Oregon: a master’s in educational leadership and a PhD in critical and sociocultural studies. She is currently an Executive Vice President at the Metropolitan Group. She describes herself as an awkward runner, voracious reader, irreverent storyteller, terrible dancer, slow hiker and deep-belly laugher. Her friends describe her as a “truth-teller” and “mirror-holder” who centers everyone’s wisdom and gifts.