Meet the Cooperative Extension Team

Susan Given Seymour, M.Ed., Director of Cooperative Extension, Outreach and Community Education

Throughout her 21 years at NWIC, Ms. Given-Seymour has always served in administrative positions related to community education. Under her leadership, her staff has initiated and/or expanded programs on many topics, including: individual and family health and wellness; positive parenting; financial literacy; traditional culture and arts; tribal museum studies; hospitality management; and professional development in other areas of importance to tribal communities. Ms. Given-Seymour is a founding member and the treasurer of the First American Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON), a national organization that works to foster communication, cooperation, and professionalism among tribal college land grant educators. She also serves on the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Policy Board as well as the National 4-H Healthy Liaison Committee.

Phone: 360-392-4248 Email: sgiven@nwic.edu

Sunny Guillory, Financial Literacy Program Coordinator & Trainer

Sunny Guillory is enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, located in North and South Dakota. Sunny’s Lakota name, Wihenape wi’ “Rising Sun Woman”, was given to her by her grandparents, the late Reverend Innocent and Edna Goodhouse. Sunny is the mother of three and is passionate about supporting Native families in building financial assets. Sunny received her A.S. in Business Administration from Sitting Bull College and her B.S. in Business Management from the University of Mary.
Phone:  360-392-4280  Email:  sguillory@nwic.edu

Edna Jefferson, Financial Literacy Trainer

Kwel’ Sil’ Le’ Mault, English given name, Edna Jefferson, is daughter of Merle Jr. and Julie Jefferson. She is an enrolled member of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe and descendent of Lummi Nation. Edna graduated from NWIC with her Direct Transfer degree with highest honors in 2008 and is currently working on her Bachelor’s degree in Tribal Governance and Business Management. Edna is a mother to two beautiful children and has a passion for working for her people.

Phone: 360-255-4414  Email: ejefferson@nwic.edu

Ruth Solomon, Continuing Education and Conference Coordinator

Ruth is from Lummi and a mother of three and grandmother of five grandchildren. She is a graduate from NWIC with an A.A.S. General Direct degree in 2006 and is currently pursuing a 4-year degree. She has been employed at NWIC for 17 years, with 8 years in her current position. Ruth has a passion for family and wellness and enjoys giving back to her community by offering fun educational conferences and workshops for all ages to participate.
Phone:  360-392-4239  Email:  rsolomon@nwic.edu

Tami Chock, Community Outreach Programs Coordinator

Tami joined the Cooperative Extension team in January 2010 after serving for nearly 10 years at a non-profit organization in the Lummi tribal community. She earned her BS in Environmental Science and Elementary Education, and is currently earning her MEd. Tami provides organizational support and works with Cooperative Extension staff to design evaluations that can be used to continually improve our department and programs to meet the needs of the communities we serve. 

Phone:  360-392-4259  Email:  tchock@nwic.edu

Vanessa Cooper, Traditional Plants Program Coordinator

Vanessa is an enrolled member of the Lummi tribe and a single mother of three beautiful children. She has worked as the Traditional Plants and Foods Program Coordinator since 2006. Vanessa teaches community education classes on the uses of traditional foods. Her work promotes positive lifestyle changes by providing opportunities for the community to participate in activities that encourage making healthy choices. A graduate of Northwest Indian College, Vanessa continued her studies at Western Washington University and will graduate in June 2010 with her Bachelors degree in Human Services. Her intention is to “Give back to a community that has given me so much to be grateful for.” 

Phone: 360.392.4343   Email: vcooper@nwic.edu

Elise Krohn, M.Ed, Traditional Foods Educator and Herbalist

Elise is passionate about cultivating healing relationships between people and plants. Since 2005 she has taught classes and developed curriculum for the Northwest Indian College’s Traditional Plants and Foods Program. She also coordinates the Native Foods Nutrition Project at the Northwest Indian Treatment Center. Elise has a Master of Education from Lesley University, a BS from The Evergreen State College, and a Certificate in Ethnobotany from the Center for World Indigenous Studies. She is the author of Wild Rose and Western Red Cedar and the co-author of Feeding the People, Feeding the Spirit: Revitalizing Northwest Coastal Indian Food Culture.
ekrohn@nwic.edu
 

Valerie Segrest, Native Nutrition Educator

Valerie specializes in local and traditional foods. As an enrolled member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, she serves her community through coordinating the Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project and teaches classes on traditional foods and medicines. She is a graduate of the Northwest Indian College, received a BS in Nutrition from Bastyr University in 2009, and is a graduate student at Antioch University-Seattle. In 2010 she co-authored the book Feeding the People, Feeding the Spirit: Revitalizing Northwest Coastal Indian Food Culture. Valerie hopes to inspire and enlighten others about the importance of a nutrient-dense diet through a simple, common sense approach to eating.  vsegrest@nwic.edu

Miguel Hernandez, Muckleshoot Community Gardener

Miguel is committed to the health of the land that in turn builds wellness in people.  He is currently working on an associates degree with a focus on Native American Studies, and has a Certificate in Holistic Landscape Design and Permaculture. Miguel also helps coordinate and teach the traditional skill share classes held at the Muckleshoot Tribal College.  mhernandez@nwic.edu

Elizabeth Campbell, Traditional Foods Educator

Elizabeth is a Spokane Tribal Member and grew up harvesting native foods with her family. She now specializes in growing and teaching about healthy foods. In 2008 she received a BA from the Evergreen State College with a focus in Education and Native American studies. She is the Program Assistant and Educator for the N.W. Indian Treatment Center’s Native Foods Nutrition Project and also runs an organic farm with her family in Shelton, Washington and has managed the Shelton Farmers Market for the past two years.  ecampbell@nwic.edu

Meghan McCormick, Institute of Indigenous Food & Traditions Coordinator

Meghan is passionate about community wellness and creating holistic community programs. In 2010, she received a BS in Sociology/Anthropology with a focus in Economics from St. Michael's College (Vermont). In addition to coordinating the Institute of Indigenous Foods & Traditions, she is a Campus Connector at the NWIC Lummi main campus.

Phone: 360-594-4099   Email: mmccormick@nwic.edu

Gail Julius, Traditional Plants Program Assistant

Gail is Lummi Tribal member and has worked over 15 years for the Lummi Nation in varying positions from Tribal Government to Tribal Administration. Gail believes that the work in the Traditional Plants & Foods Program is vital to supporting our people to become aware of and own their health and well being.

Phone:  360-392-4345  Email:  gjulius@nwic.edu

Jessica Harshman, Cooperative Extension Administrative Assistant

Scho~lei~tsa III, English name, Jessica Harshman is 19 years young and graduated from Lummi Nation High School in 2012. In June 2013 she will be graduating from Northwest Indian College  with an AAS Direct Transfer Degree and Native Studies Certificate. She plans to continue her studies at NWIC to earn her Bachelors Degree in Native Environmental Science. She also serves as the Student Wellness Mentor for Women’s Wellness Program in Center for Health.

Phone: 360-392-4345