Haury Program Awards $230,000 in Gap Funding for University of Arizona Indigenous Environmental Resilience Research
Haury Program Awards $230,000 in Gap Funding for University of Arizona Indigenous Environmental Resilience Research
March 20, 2026
The Agnese Nelms Haury Program has announced a new one-time research awards initiative for University of Arizona faculty working on Indigenous environmental resilience issues. Five faculty members affiliated with the Indigenous Resilience Center (IRes) have been selected as awardees.
These awards provide one-time bridge (gap) funding to sustain Indigenous environmental resilience research at the University of Arizona, with priority given to projects related to water, energy, and food systems.
“The grants were provided as part of a Haury one-time support initiative to sustain IRes faculty projects already in progress during a period of significant challenges for university-based environmental resilience research,” said Toni Massaro, Executive Director of the Haury Program.
IRes was established in 2021 with support from the Haury Program and is part of the Arizona Institute for Resilience. The Center aims to position the University of Arizona as a world leader in Indigenous resilience research, education, and outreach.
Dr. Karletta Chief (Diné), Director of the Indigenous Resilience Center, explains:
“The Indigenous Resilience Center reflects the University of Arizona’s commitment to giving back to local tribes who have stewarded this land for millennia. Tribes have endured and sacrificed so much in terms of land loss and social and environmental impacts, much at the hands of the United States. Universities have benefited through their physical infrastructure and therefore have a responsibility to serve as a bridge — to ethically address the challenges these communities face in ways that build trust and transparency.”
Individual grants range from $30,000 to $50,000 and will ensure the continuation of research projects led by faculty experiencing temporary funding disruptions, including delays in funding decisions or gaps in active grants. “The Haury Program gap funding comes at a crucial time when many funding opportunities at the federal level have been cut,” stated Torran Anderson, IRes Community Outreach Manager. “These grants will allow IRes core and affiliated faculty to continue their work co-designing food, energy, and water solutions with Tribes. The Indigenous Resilience Center is grateful to receive this support at a pivotal moment and excited to see its impact benefit communities.”
The five recipients of the 2026 Haury Indigenous Environmental Resilience Faculty Research Awards are:
- Dr. Karletta Chief (Department of Environmental Science)
- Dr. Cherie De Vore (Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering)
- Dr. Joseph Hoover (Department of Environmental Science)
- Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson (School of Natural Resources and the Environment)
- Dr. Vicki Karanikola (Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering)
Project Summaries
Dr. Karletta Chief will lead a project titled “Socio-economic and Health Impacts of Coal Mining and Well-Being of Diné Residents Living within the Peabody Coal Leasehold Area Using the Diné Health Model.”
The project has two primary goals:
- To evaluate the socio-economic and health effects of coal mining on Diné residents through community surveys and focus groups; and
- To identify culturally relevant coping strategies and intervention models through interviews with residents, healers, and practitioners rooted in Diné cultural values.
This mixed-methods study is developed in partnership with Black Mesa United–Dzil Yijiin Bee Ahota’, a Navajo-led nonprofit organization. The research will respect tribal sovereignty, emphasize transparency, and contribute to broader knowledge about Indigenous environmental health.
Dr. Cherie De Vore’s project, “Endophytic Fungi Enhance Arsenic and Copper Phytoremediation Near Indigenous Lands,” addresses the intertwined ecological, cultural, and health impacts of mining contamination that disproportionately burden Indigenous communities in the U.S. Southwest.
The research investigates plant–fungal partnerships that enhance phytoremediation of copper and arsenic — persistent hazards in abandoned mine lands across the region. While the laboratory methods are mechanistic, the broader intent is translational: to evaluate remediation pathways aligned with Indigenous values of land stewardship, minimal ecological disturbance, and sustained relationships with the land. The project also strengthens Indigenous environmental resilience by creating pathways for Indigenous students in engineering and microbiology.
Dr. Joseph Hoover will conduct a community-driven project with the Indian Wells Chapter of the Navajo Nation titled “Arsenic Speciation in Groundwater Sources of Indian Wells, Navajo.”
Arsenic is a known human carcinogen that can cause skin lesions, cancer, and other adverse health outcomes. Previous water quality research has documented concerning levels of total arsenic in unregulated groundwater sources in the Indian Wells Chapter; however, prior studies did not examine the specific chemical forms of arsenic present. This project will characterize arsenic speciation in local water sources and identify wells demonstrating contamination, helping inform more targeted mitigation strategies.
Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson will conduct a comparative study of the Tribal Extension Model and the conventional Western-based Extension Model through his project, “Bridging the Gap: Creating Opportunities for Tribal Agriculture Communities in Arizona.”
The project will examine questions such as:
- What is the impact of each extension model on tribal communities?
- What underlying differences exist between economic-focused and community-centered approaches?
- What barriers — including land jurisdictional issues, stakeholder structures, and resource constraints — affect Extension Agents working in tribal contexts?
- What solutions can help alleviate these barriers?
Indigenous resilience is often grounded in community values and collective well-being rather than economic maximization alone. The project will include site visits and the organization of a conference in cooperation with the Udall Center.
Dr. Vicki Karanikola’s project, “Monument Valley Park FEWS Assessment and Assistance,” will bridge current funding and future grants to continue collaboration with the Monument Valley Park community (10 households) on food-energy-water systems (FEWS).
In response to concerns about spring water quality, treatment systems were developed with community input and refined through iterative improvements. To date, five solar ultraviolet (SUV) systems have been installed, with plans for at least five additional installations. As designs improve, earlier systems are being upgraded accordingly. A formal data collection effort began in October 2025 in partnership with Diné College, focusing on system performance and user feedback. This grant will provide additional time to continue assessments and ensure the systems meet safety and performance standards.
“Haury is very proud to support these outstanding Indigenous environmental resilience researchers and their deep commitment to respectful tribal engagement in all of their community-based work,” said Toni Massaro. “This is the University of Arizona operating at its land-grant best.”
The Agnese Nelms Haury Program is a University of Arizona–embedded philanthropic program established in 2014 through what was, at the time, the largest bequest ever received by the University. The Program is governed by an external Donor Advised Fund Board. Since 2020, the Haury Program has focused on advancing Indigenous resilience, particularly environmental resilience and water-related initiatives.
By leveraging the University of Arizona’s expertise and resources, the Haury Program invests in faculty, programs, community partnerships, and Native Nations — putting the University’s land-grant mission into action.
For more information, visit haury.arizona.edu.