Empowering and Connecting Tribal Communities

To honor our 40 years, we're celebrating our most valuable resource - our alumni - through 40 profiles highlighting their leadership. Alumna Kraynal Alfred completed the Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University in 2006.

Kraynal Alfred embodies the values of community, commitment, and leadership.

Kraynal Alfred, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, earned her BA in Political Science from Georgia State University. Alongside her undergraduate studies, she participated in 3 Fellowships. Her initial fellowship was with the Yale Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship where she researched inter-tribal affairs and communication. The following year she spent a semester in the Native American Political Leadership Program (NAPLP) at George Washington University where she focused on grassroots advocacy and campaign training and interned with the National Congress of American Indians.

She attended the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at the Princeton School of Public Policy and International Affairs e where she enjoyed studying economics, public policy, and statistics. She went on to earn her Masters in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. While completing her graduate studies, she also served in leadership roles for the HKS Native American Caucus and she worked as a work-study research assistant for the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.

“I am immensely grateful for PPIA because it prepared me for graduate school in many different ways, convened a cohort of students from all walks of life who became forever friends, and instilled a confidence to pursue goals that I once thought were only pipe dreams,” said Kraynal. “PPIA supports JSIs that equip students with an analytical skill set and perspective to make a career in public service truly meaningful.”

Before graduate school, She began her career at the National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Health Board. After graduate school, she worked for the Navajo Nation in the Office of Navajo Government Development and the Office of the Navajo Navajo Speaker. From there, she gave back to NAPLP at George Washington University as the INSPIRE Project Director and led the creation of the INSPIRE Pre-College Program for Native high school students. Kraynal Alfred began working at the U.S. Department of the Interior where she held the positions of Program Specialist and Public Affairs Specialist for the Office of Public Affairs - Indian Affairs. Recently, Kraynal wrapped up her work as the Tribal Liaison for Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC).

Kraynal Alfred will announce her next steps soon. She will continue working towards strengthening tribal communities and expanding tribal representation and engagement in important issues.

Thank you, Kraynal, for being a voice of leadership for the tribal communities and bringing forth opportunity and connection. Your efforts are helping to preserve culture and community, foster diversity within multiple spheres of influence, and bring about a vibrant thriving society that works for all.

Read more changemaker profiles here!