Kelsey Leonard is a water governance researcher specializing in Indigenous water rights at the University of Waterloo.[1] She was the first Native American woman to earn a science degree from the University of Oxford, which she earned in 2012.[2] She earned an MSc in water science, policy and management from St. Cross College,[3] one of the thirty-eight colleges of the University of Oxford.[2] Her master's thesis, “Water Quality For Native Nations: Achieving A Trust Responsibility”, discusses water quality regulation and how water resources on tribal land are not protected.[4]

Kelsey Leonard
NationalityShinnecock Nation
Academic background
Alma materHarvard University (B.A.)
University of Oxford (M.Sc.)
Duquesne University School of Law (J.D.)
McMaster University (Ph.D.)
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Waterloo
Websitehttps://www.kelseyleonard.com

Kelsey Leonard is an enrolled member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and is originally from the Shinnecock Indian Reservation on Long Island, New York.[5][6][7] In 2010, she was the first member of the Shinnecock Nation to graduate from Harvard University.[8][4] Her Harvard degree is a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and anthropology with a secondary field in ethnic studies.

Leonard earned a JD from Duquesne University School of Law, and a PhD in political science from McMaster University.[1] She is now an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo.[1]

Leonard's TED Talk, "Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans", has had 3.5 million views as of October 2023.[9]

References==

  1. ^ a b c "Kelsey Leonard |". University of Waterloo: School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  2. ^ a b "Shinnecock Kelsey Leonard - 1st American Indian Woman-Oxford". NativeNewsNetwork. 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
  3. ^ Goldstein, Ben (October 19, 2012). "First Native American woman to get Oxon degree".
  4. ^ a b "Shinnecock Member Is First Woman to Graduate from England's Oxford University". Indian Country Today. Indian Country Media Network. 2012-10-15. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
  5. ^ Newman, Jesse (January 16, 2013). "Shinnecock trailblazer returns to help". Newsday.
  6. ^ "STX student Kelsey Leonard is the first Native American woman to graduate from Oxford University". Stx.ox.ac.uk. 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
  7. ^ "We Are Harvard". Hunap.harvard.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
  8. ^ "Shinnecock Woman First Native American Female To Graduate From Oxford University". October 10, 2012.
  9. ^ "Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans". Retrieved 22 October 2023.