Rana (she/her) is a connector, facilitator, and problem solver whose work and life are shaped by a deep commitment to and love for Indigenous communities and tribal sovereignty. She has over ten years of non-profit experience, from on-the-ground work to capacity building to resource mobilization, and has managed the investment of millions of dollars into Native communities through asset-building strategies. As a Kanien’kehá:ka woman, Rana attempts to apply the seventh generation principle to her daily actions and is passionate about ensuring a better world for the many generations to come.
Previously, Rana served as a Lead Program Officer with First Nations Development Institute, where she supported and invested in tribal food systems work through grantmaking, technical assistance and training, and the coordination of publications to highlight and educate on the ongoing work happening within Native communities. She has also worked at NoVo Foundation as the Initiative Associate for its Indigenous Communities program, and at Cause Effective, as a Program Associate working with dozens of grassroots organizations to strengthen their internal capacity to continue fighting for change.
Rana received her BA degree in international relations and economics from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts (Wampanoag and Narragansett territories). While there, she worked to develop Native Heritage Month and partnered with numerous student groups to intertwine Indigenous issues with existing programming. She was raised on Nipmuc land in central Massachusetts, and now resides on Cheyenne and Arapaho homelands in Denver, Colorado. When not working, she can usually be found hiking with her dog, cooking, weight-lifting, or talking about Star Wars.