Turquoise "Chenoa" Velarde, '14

Turquoise "Chenoa" Velarde (Business Administration, ‘14) was selected for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network, an innovative fellowship for leaders in local communities and the national child- and family-serving ecosystem to connect, grow and lead collaborative, transformational change on behalf of children, families and communities. The fellowship begins in January 2026 and continues for 18 months. Through six in-person and three virtual gatherings, the fellows will have a chance to build relationships and begin their journey of self-discovery and transformation. 

Turquoise “Chenoa” Velarde comes from Taos Pueblo and the Jicarilla Apache Nation and currently resides in her hometown of Taos. An Indigenous mother, daughter, auntie, sister, educator, and cultural advocate, Chenoa continues to create educational equity and access for tribal students and the communities they come from in higher education. She is passionate about spreading awareness about Indigenous Educational Sovereignty, advocating for its place in public education. 

Chenoa works at University of New Mexico-Taos as the Indigenous Outreach Coordinator. She supports the Indigenous Student population by bridging institutions and communities, helping them walk in their educational and cultural worlds with strength and pride. Chenoa earned her B.A. in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College and her M.A. in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies from the University of New Mexico. Chenoa serves on various education and advocacy-centric councils, boards and committees in Taos where education and advocacy is centered and is an active member in both of the tribal communities her parents are from.  

Learn more here.