Contact one of the following alumni volunteers to get involved with the Native American Chapter.

Persephone Hooper '04 (Newe)

I’m from the Yomba Western Shoshone Reservation in Central Nevada and currently work on the San Pasqual Reservation in Valley Center (North San Diego County). I work in the education department and feel blessed to have an opportunity to work with Native people, especially students. I live in Escondido and have 2 children, a cat, and a turtle. I love to read, watch football (Go Chargers), and drum. While at UCSD, I was an advocate for Native American students and all students of color by chairing the Native American Student Alliance and the Student Affirmative Action Committee. I consider myself an activist and continually try to bring awareness to this country’s Indigenous past and present and the issues facing our communities in my professional and personal life. I am the current President for the Native American Alumni Chapter and am excited and honored to have this opportunity.

Natchee Blu Barnd '02(Anishinaabe/Ojibwe)
Boozhoo niijii-gikino’amaaganidook (welcome my fellow students). I consider myself half-urban and half-rural. I am neo-traditional. I am Portuguese and Scotch-Irish - call me Portojibwish. I love painting and sculpting, word play and history. I crave music and language. I am the proud father of a beautiful daughter, who keeps me laughing and playing and being young. I am husband to my beautiful wife, Charlene, who used to work for the Cross-Cultural Center at UC San Diego, and stole my heart – before I stole her to the Bay Area. I am currently “teacher” (professor) to my students in American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University. I am a degree holder from Sonoma State University (BA), UCLA (MA), and UC San Diego (MA). Right now, I am finishing my PhD in Ethnic Studies at the University of California, San Diego. I welcome the new generation of native students to UC San Diego and hope that I can help you individually and collectively create a space of strength, empowerment, respect, and responsibility. Miigwech binzindawiiyeg. Mii sa go minik (Thanks for listening to me. That is all).

Alan Lechusza Aquallo

I am happily married with a 3 year old daughter , Sage Monet Lechusza Aquallo, and live just outside the La Jolla Indian Reservation in Temecula California. I received a B.M. from Cal State University Long Beach in commercial Music/Woodwind Performance and an M.F.A. from the University of California, Irvine in Composition/Woodwind Performance. I most recently received a Ph.D in Critical Studies/Experimental Studies from the University of California San Diego. I maintain an active performing and composing schedule with conferences coming up throughout the U.S. and Europe. My scholarship continues to be in demand and I enjoy sharing Native knowledge to those who need to be informed of our diverse cultures.

Elena Mae Tellechea (Quechan)

My dad is from the Fort Yuma Reservation of California and Arizona. I grew up and live in San Diego. I graduated from UCSD with a B.S. degree in Cognitive Science with specialization in Human and Computer Interaction and a minor in Latin Literature. I grew up not knowing much about my Native American culture or history, except for what I learned in grade school. While at UCSD I joined the Native American Student Alliance where I gained a little more exposure to the Native American presence here in San Diego. I look forward to similar experiences and I’m excited to be involved.