Meet Our Team
Dr. Kimberly R. Huyser
CIEDAR Lead
Dr. Kimberly R. Huyser is an associate professor of sociology at the University of British Columbia. She is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and grew up on the Navajo reservation in Arizona, USA. The central intellectual motivation driving her research agenda is to gain a deeper understanding of the social conditions that undermine health, as well as to identify the cultural and social resources leveraged by racial and ethnic groups in order to further their individual and collective health and well-being.
Tamara Chavez
Project Manager
Tamara Chavez is an immigrant settler from El Salvador with Nawa/Pipil ancestry. She is CIEDAR’s project manager. Previously, Tamara was a project coordinator for the BC Centre of Disease Control Harm Reduction Services and a research consultant for Harm Reduction International. Her frontline and research work interests include topics such as harm reduction, overdose prevention, mental health and sexual health alongside various groups. As CIEDAR's project manager, Tamara eagerly anticipates the opportunity to establish connections and foster meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities.
Mary Jessome
Research Manager
Mary Jessome is a PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia. For Mary, CIEDAR is a unique opportunity to work alongside Indigenous folk who believe that research can capture and amplify Indigenous voices. As CIEDAR’s research manager, Mary looks forward to using research as a way of sharing the stories of the different communities CIEDAR partners with.
CIEDAR’S Advisory Council
CIEDAR’s Advisory Council is key to the research activities and efforts of CIEDAR. They direct and guide our research and outreach efforts by providing expert advice, participating in all stages of the research process, and connecting us to community. Specifically, they:
Are research collaborators
Are representatives of their communities as they contribute valuable insight into the needs of Indigenous communities
Receive and disseminate updates from CIEDAR to their respective communities and networks.
CIEDAR is currently in the process of selecting members for the Advisory Council. Check back for updates.