Nevada Tribal Programs

Staci Emm

Professor-Extension- Reno, NV

Staci Emm leads Nevada Tribal Programs for the University of Nevada, Reno Extension. Staci is a member of the Yerington Paiute Tribe and grew up on the Walker River Reservation in a generational farming and ranching family. She began her career in July of 2000 in the Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP). Staci works at national, regional and local levels to provide education in Indian Land Tenure and tribal water rights. She co-created an award winning and internationally known curriculum, People of the Land, which trained USDA professionals on how to implement federal programs on trust lands. She has a BA in Journalism from the University of Nevada Reno, and a Masters in Agriculture from Colorado State University. Staci is experienced in business management and entrepreneurship, marketing, Indian land tenure, agricultural water rights, and land-use planning. Areas of expertise include Indian Land Tenure, USDA program access, and tribal agricultural water rights.

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Daniel Coen

Lead Coordinator - Extension - Carson City, NV

Daniel Coen, holds a MAT from Georgia State University and a BA in History, also from Georgia State University. He retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2020 after 28 years of service and attained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer, E8. After retiring, he began with Extension as the overall project mentor for the newly developed Tribal Students Program for the purpose of providing encouragement, connecting the students with needed resources, and providing general advice as needed. He developed tutoring and support planning for each student receiving a tuition scholarship. He scheduled and coordinated the retreats for American Indian students twice a year to discuss long-term personal goals, career goals, identify successes and failures of students, and to enhance self-efficacy. He now coordinates the statewide Extension Tribal programs and works with grant teams and tribal communities to identify funding opportunities and additional offerings. He works with the entire Native Program team in the hoop house project, on reservation Extension programs, and regional and national efforts so that opportunities can be brought back to tribal communities. Daniel's areas of expertise are access to State and Federal programs, student programming, small business development, and on-reservation Extension programming.

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Nik Wright

Pyramid Lake Reservation FRTEP Coordinator – Extension - Nixon, NV

Nikwich Wright holds a BA in English from Stanford University. After graduating from Stanford University, he worked at Pyramid Lake Jr./Sr. High School for a short time before joining Extension. Originally hired on to assist in agricultural development with Hoop House construction on Northern Nevada tribal lands, he has also continued to promote agricultural knowledge in his community by implementing various programs offered by Extension to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. These programs include: Veggies for Kids and Veggies for Seniors program, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 Hoop House program, fruit tree pruning and beekeeping workshops hosted on the Pyramid Lake Reservation, 4-H and College Preparation camps involving Pyramid Lake Tribal youth, afterschool programming collaboration with Natchez Elementary School and Pyramid Lake Jr./Sr. High School. With many programs, Nikwich’s main goal for both Extension and the Pyramid Lake Reservation is to improve these current programs and promote opportunity for his community through these programs. Nik's areas of expertise are youth development, tribal hoop house programs, and Veggies for Seniors/ Veggies for Kids.

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Reggie Premo

Duck Valley Reservation FRTEP Coordinator – Extension - Owyhee, NV

Reggie Premo is a member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley reservation that encompasses northeastern Nevada and southern Idaho. He is a descendant of the Tosawihi (White Knife) band of Western Shoshone. Reggie was raised on a cattle ranch and currently grows alfalfa hay and assists local producers on the reservation with cropland development, livestock production, horticulture, and industrial hemp research. Reggie has been employed with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension since 2010. He is responsible for coordinating and scheduling educational activities regarding nutrition, organizational development, natural resources, and agriculture. Reggie assists tribal members in utilizing the Duck Valley Conservation District and access USDA programs. He also manages the largest tribal hoop-house project in the country. Reggie's areas of expertise are hoop house management, access to USDA programs, and agriculture economic development.

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Gaylene M Williams

Youth Development Program Coordinator – Extension - Pyramid Lake, NV

Gaylene Williams is Numu-Kooyooe Tukadu (Pyramid Lake Paiute), from Pyramid Lake, Nevada. She has most recently worked with the Nevada First-Gen Network as a Program Coordinator where she collaboratively supported 27 stakeholders from throughout the state of Nevada. Gaylene worked on the Native American Enhancement Project for the Nevada Department of Education to enrich the educational experience for students throughout the state as they learn about Nevada tribes. During her time with the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Education Department, she worked with members of the community, providing wrap-around services to help ensure client success in education, training, and workforce development. She taught Elementary School for the Bureau of Indian Education at a public school situated within the boundaries of a reservation. Gaylene maintains strong ties to her language and culture. She believes education is key for Indigenous communities to maintain their sovereignty and right to self-determination. Gaylene’s areas of expertise are youth education, workforce development, and indigenous knowledge of Nevada Tribes.

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Cody Hussla

Crop Production Coordinator – Extension - Sparks, NV

Cody Hussla is a Crop Production Coordinator with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, and is a crop and pest control advisor to support and assist with agriculture planning and implementation for Nevada Tribal Programs. Cody is from Sparks NV and studied entomology and wildlife, fish and conservation biology at UC Davis, and worked with UC Agricultural and Natural Resources, John Muir Institute, UC Natural Reserve Systems, and the Desert Research Institute. Cody specializes in regenerative agriculture/ecosystems and sustainable production and has experience and practice with conventional agricultural production.

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Laurie A. Thom

Tribal Outreach, Yerington, NV

Laurie Thom supports Tribal Emergency Management Programs for the University of Nevada Extension. She is a member of the Yerington Paiute Tribe. Laurie worked in the tribal sector as an advocate for victims of crime, tribal law enforcement, environmental staff, and served as a council member and as Chairman of two different Northern Nevada tribes. She has served on regional and national committees for tribal funding and was honored with Leader of the Year from the Nevada Indian Commission for her service to Nevada tribes. Serving in the legislative branch of tribal government during times of crisis provided her valuable insight into many levels of preparedness needed for tribal emergency management. Serving her community for 10 years in the Schurz Volunteer Fire Department and as a wildland firefighter and support services, she has experienced being on the front lines and received special training. Training included U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & U.S. Public Health Services Introduction to Institutional Environmental Health, Hazmat, Bioterrorism Awareness, emergency communications, terrorism consequences, Nevada State Grants, FEMA and CTAS grants, FEMA Community Emergency Management Team Training, and CERT Train the Trainer, numerous health and wellness CEU’s. She earned her associate degree at Western Nevada College, graduated and presented cultural inclusion at the National Victims Assistance Academy at California State University-Fresno, earned her massage therapy license, and has been a licensed massage therapist for 14 ½ years. She is a Great Basin Basket Weavers Association member and actively attends the Four Tribes Alliance and the Tribal Cultural Resources Management Working Group. Laurie’s expertise is in emergency management, Tribal relations, and indigenous knowledge of Nevada Tribes.

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