Since 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy college student internship program has provided 31 Native American undergraduate and graduate students with first-hand experience working on tribal renewable energy projects and direct exposure to issues concerning tribal renewable energy technology use and application. Find details about recent interns and download their research papers below.

Learn about previous interns that were sponsored by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Tribal Energy Program, a predecessor of the DOE Office of Indian Energy.

Student Name Tribe Degrees Years Research Papers
Sarah LaVallie Turtle Mountain Chippewa Master's in Science, Technology, & Environmental Policy, University of Minnesota 2022-2023
Rachel Herring Choctaw Master's in International Environmental Policy and Japanese 2022-2023
Veronique Arguello Acoma and Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo M.S. Urban Planning, University of Arizona 2022-2023 Moving forward in Tribal renewable energy development with strategic and consensus-based planning
Rudy Montoya Navajo M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico 2022 Shifting from Fossil Fuel Reliance to Green Energy Sovereignty: Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Presentation
Dylan Hammond Zuni B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University 2022 Solar Energy Implementation Strategies on Picuris Pueblo; Presentation
Veronique Arguello Acoma and Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo B.S. Environmental and Regional Planning, University of New Mexico 2019 Design Consideration for Solar Powered Wastewater Treatment Facility for Agriculture and Potable Usage on Acoma Pueblo Reservation
Callie Singer Navajo B.S. Civil Engineering, Columbia University 2019 Sizing Small-Scale Renewable Energy Systems for the Navajo Nation and Rural Communities
Sherralyn Snezzer Navajo and San Carlos Apache B.S. Environmental Science, Dartmouth College 2019 An Assessment of the Potential for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development on the Navajo Nation
Sarah LaVallie Turtle Mountain Chippewa M.S. Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy, University of Minnesota; BS Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State 2021; 2019 Preliminary Assessment of Potential for Wind Energy Technology on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Reservation
Christian Gould Navajo Nation B.S. Chemical Engineering, Columbia University 2018 Addressing Food Insecurity on the Navajo Reservation Through Sustainable Greenhouses
Manuelito Chief Navajo Nation B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Arizona 2018 Analysis of Refrigeration Units in Off Grid PV/Wind Hybrid Systems on Tribal Land
Teri Allery Turtle Mountain Chippewa M.S. Construction Management, North Dakota State University; B.S. Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University; A.S. Engineering, Turtle Mountain Community College 2018 Solar Street Lighting: Using Renewable Energy for Safety for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
Kathryn Hall Turtle Mountain Chippewa M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of North Dakota; B.S. Chemical Engineering; University of North Dakota 2017 Solar Energy Technologies and the Utilization on Native American Tribal Lands
Teri Allery Turtle Mountain Chippewa M.S. Construction Management, North Dakota State University; B.S. Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University; A.S. Engineering, Turtle Mountain Community College 2017 Renewable Energy Technologies for Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian Reservation
Diana Fuller Mescalero Apache M.A. Sustainable Development and Policy, University of Illinois Springfield 2016 Identifying Sustainable Design Opportunities in Tribal Hotels and Casinos Focus: Mescalero Inn of the Mountain Gods Hotel & Casino
Rachael Gutierrez Yomba Shoshone M.A. City and Regional Planning, Pratt Institute's School of Architecture 2016 An Asset-Based Approach to Tribal Community Energy Planning
JoDonna John Navajo B.S. Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University; A.S. Sustainable Systems/PV, Navajo Technical University 2015 Building Geothermal Greenhouse Potential for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Brittany Anstead Haliwa-Saponi M.S. Natural Resources and Environmentals, Sustainable Systems, University of MIchigan; B.S. Environmental Technology and Management, North Carolina State University 2015 Methods for Tribal Sustainable Development, Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change through a Sustainability Framework
Kimberlynn Cameron Standing Rock Sioux B.S. Geological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; M.S. Engineering Management/Sustainable Energy Minor, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 2015-2016 Microbial Fuel Cell Possibilities on American Indian Tribal Lands
Len Necefer Navajo B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas; Ph.D candidate in the Engineering and Public Policy Department at Carnegie Mellon University 2014-2016 Identifying Barriers and Pathways for Success for Renewable Energy Development on American Indian Lands
Tommy Jones Aleut and Cherokee B.S. Biology and Spanish, Oklahoma City University; M.A. Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science, University of Hawaii at Hilo; Ph.D in natural resources studies and minoring in American Indian studies, University of Arizona 2014-2016 Identifying Barriers and Pathways for Success for Renewable Energy Development on American Indian Lands
Rachael Gutierrez Yomba Shoshone Tribe B.S. International Relations with a Concentration in Latin America and International Business 2012 An Asset-Based Approach to Tribal Community Energy Planning
Nora Cata Seneca-Cayuga M.S. Environmental Studies, San Jose State; B.A. Environmental Studies, University of California Santa Barbara 2012 Residential Solar Energy on the Navajo Nation
Chelsea Chee Navajo M.S. Community and Regional Planning and Public Administration, University of New Mexico; B.S. Environmental Studies, University of Arizona 2012; 2011 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Benefits Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla via Implementation at Their Indian Canyons Trading Post
Colleen Cooley Navajo M.S. Climate Science and Solutions, Northern Arizona University; B.S. Environmental Studies, Northern Arizona University 2012 Mitigating Climate Change on a Tribal Level
Tammie Allen Jicarilla Apache M.C.R.P. Community & Regional Planning, Emphasis Environmental and Natural Resource Planning, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; B.A. Humanities, Cum Laude, College of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, New Mexico 2011 Improving Sustainability, Conservation, and Economic Development Utilizing Off-Grid Ecolodge: Ramona Band of Cahuilla Mission Indian Reservation Case Study
Gepetta Billie Navajo M.C.R.P. Community & Regional Planning, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; B.A. Environmental Planning & Design, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; A.A.S. Civil Engineering Technology, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico 2011; 2010; 2009; 2008 Renewable Energy: Planning for Sustainability & Self-Determination for the Navajo Nation
Devin Dick Navajo AS Renewable Energy Technologies, Navajo Technical University 2011 Suggested Alternatives for Navajo Tribal Utility Authority: Utilizing Excess Power Generated by Stored Hybrid Units
Joni Fuenmayor Navajo A.A.S. Energy Systems, Navajo Technical College, Crownpoint, New Mexico; B.A. Studio Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 2010 What's in a Watt? An Exploration of the Basic Electrical Relationship Between a Residential Photovoltaic System and an Appliance
Prestene Garnenez Navajo M.A. Urban Planning, University of California-Los Angeles, California; B.S. Biology and minor in Mathematics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 2010; 2009 Green Gas Stations: A Guide for Tribally Owned Gas Stations
Logan Slock Hopi/Choctaw B.A. Liberal Arts with focus in Environmental Studies, Johnson State College, Johnson, Vermont 2010 Achieving Overall Betterment of Energy Resource Use in Tribal Communities