Tim Benally
Tim is pursuing a dual-title in Recreation Parks and Tourism Management (RPTM) and Transdisciplinary Research in the Environment and Society (TREES). Originally from Ganado, Arizona (Navajo Nation)Tim graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in the Spring of 2021. As a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and Udall Scholarship recipient for Tribal Healthcare, Tim’s research focus in multicultural psychology examined cross-cultural empathy engagement and the historical roots of negative Indigenous stereotypes. Tim’s background also includes direct tribal government experience after working for the Navajo Nation Office of the Speaker as a public information officer during his senior year and serving 9th Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez as an executive staff assistant in a gap semester before joining us this fall. Tim is currently working with his research mentor Dr. Derrick Taff to combine his background in psychology with his sociocultural experience growing up on the Navajo Nation to explore research topics related to cultural exchange programs and ecologically responsible service-learning programs for Indigenous youth. Additionally, he hopes to utilize the TREES research model to connect Navajo college students with Penn State students of various educational backgrounds to begin tackling pertinent environmental issues on the Navajo Nation such as restoring lands affected by uranium mining near his home.