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About
Melissa is a descendant of Ohlone and Esselen peoples of Monterey, California. She received her BA from CSU, Sacramento in Ethnic Studies and is currently C.Phil in Native American Studies. Her research includes the reciprocal relationship between Hip Hop Culture and Indigenous Communities. She is also interested in Performance Studies, Popular Culture, and the intersectionalities of descendants of Africa and Indigenous Americans. Melissa also works on revitalizing the Esselen language. She is a lifetime resident of Sacramento County and teaches dance, jewelry making, and classes on revitalizing indigenous languages. Download a copy of her her CV (above) or read more below.
Melissa Violet Leal
missjanet14@yahoo.com, mvleal@ucdavis.edu
Education
University of California, Davis. Davis, CA
PhD Candidate, Native American Studies
California State University Sacramento. Sacramento, CA
BA, Ethnic Studies, Concentration in Native American Studies
May 21, 2005
University of California, Davis. Davis, CA
PhD Candidate, Native American Studies
California State University Sacramento. Sacramento, CA
BA, Ethnic Studies, Concentration in Native American Studies
May 21, 2005
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Employment History
University of California, Davis Teaching Assistant, NAS 01 (Intro. to Native American Studies) Capitol Area Indian Resources, Inc. Sacramento, CA Tutor, Summer Session Teacher, Cultural Instructor Sacramento City Unified School District Substitute Teacher/Tutor County of Sacramento, Department of Human Assistance Human Services Specialist, Calworks Case Manager Elk Grove Unified School District Substitute Teacher LUMA Motion Academy, Elk Grove, CA Office Manager, Dance Teacher, Event Coordinator Merryhill Preschool, Elk Grove, CA Spanish Teacher, Substitute Teacher, Office Assistant |
09/ 2010 – present 01/2001 - present 08/2007 - present 02/2006 - 07/2008 11/2005 - 02/2006 01/2004 - 11/2004 07/2002 - 05/2003 |
Credentials and Certificates
Adult Education Teaching Credential-Designated Subjects: Elementary and Secondary
Certificate of Completion-Indian Child Welfare Act Training Course
Certificate of Completion-Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Initiative
Certificate of Completion-Child Protective Services Citizen’s Academy
Certified Native American Special Skills for the County of Sacramento
Adult Education Teaching Credential-Designated Subjects: Elementary and Secondary
- Basic Skills, English as a Second Language, Social Sciences, and Spanish.
Certificate of Completion-Indian Child Welfare Act Training Course
Certificate of Completion-Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Initiative
Certificate of Completion-Child Protective Services Citizen’s Academy
Certified Native American Special Skills for the County of Sacramento
Fellowships/Scholarships
- Graduate Studies Travel Award (01/2011)
- Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship (09/2008 through 07/2010)
- Rumsey Rancheria Scholarship (2003 and 2004)
Awards/Honors
Sacramento County’s Native American Caucus honor for dedication to the Native American Community, Summer 2009.
Certificate of Appreciation for involvement in creating resource folders for Native American foster children from Sacramento County’s Department of Human Assistance and Health and Human Services. 2008
Sacramento County’s Native American Caucus honor for dedication to the Native American Community, Summer 2009.
Certificate of Appreciation for involvement in creating resource folders for Native American foster children from Sacramento County’s Department of Human Assistance and Health and Human Services. 2008
Positions Held/Committees
Sacramento County’s Native American Caucus-Secretary (2007-2008)
CPS/Washoe Native TANF Culture Camp (2007)
Sacramento American Indian Youth Resource Coalition (2007)
Youth Mentor and Leadership Advisor-SETA (Sacramento Employment Training Agency) Youth program (2006-2010)
Re-Entry Roundtable at CAJ Skills and Business Education Center (2007)
Sacramento County’s Native American Caucus-Secretary (2007-2008)
CPS/Washoe Native TANF Culture Camp (2007)
Sacramento American Indian Youth Resource Coalition (2007)
Youth Mentor and Leadership Advisor-SETA (Sacramento Employment Training Agency) Youth program (2006-2010)
Re-Entry Roundtable at CAJ Skills and Business Education Center (2007)
Publications
“Student Voice” article in Arts and Sciences Today Magazine for CSUS, spring 2004
“Soul,” America at the Millennium: The Best Poems and Poets of the 20th Century. 2000.
“Student Voice” article in Arts and Sciences Today Magazine for CSUS, spring 2004
“Soul,” America at the Millennium: The Best Poems and Poets of the 20th Century. 2000.
Workshops
Lectures
- Learn Your Native Language – Capitol Area Indian Resources, Inc. (various dates)
- Abalone and Pine Nut Necklace Making - Capitol Area Indian Resources, Inc. (various dates)
- Hip Hop for Education – Capitol Area Indian Resources, Inc. (various dates)
Lectures
- “Native Americans: Identity and Education” – CSUS, EDS 104 (Teaching Diverse Learners in Vocational/Adult Education. Spring and Fall 2010.
- “Hip Hop as Decolonization” - UC Davis, NAS 05 (Native American Experience). Winter 2011.
- “Hip Hop and Indian Activism” – UC Davis, NAS 01 (Intro to Native American Studies). Winter 2011.
Presentations
“Vision Quests: Creating an Image of Hip Hop through a Native American Cultural Lens.” 2011 Hawaii International Conference for the Arts and Humanities. January 09, 2011.
“Vocational Education: The Other Education.” 30th Annual California Conference on American Indian Education. April 4, 2007.
Research Interests
“Vision Quests: Creating an Image of Hip Hop through a Native American Cultural Lens.” 2011 Hawaii International Conference for the Arts and Humanities. January 09, 2011.
“Vocational Education: The Other Education.” 30th Annual California Conference on American Indian Education. April 4, 2007.
Research Interests
- Native American participation and contribution in Pop Culture
- Hip Hop Studies
- Dance/Music/Performance
- Language Revitalization
- Contemporary Cultural Revitalization
- Identity Negotiation
