UNITY Earth Ambassador Jada Allen had an incredible time at the 2025 AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota! Attending as part of the AISES Firewall Cybersecurity Cohort, she finally got to meet her cohort members, mentors and mentees alike, from all across the country in person. Together, they shared stories about their journeys in cybersecurity and what inspired them to pursue the field.
Throughout the conference, Jada attended sessions and workshops on a diversity of topics, including the intentional design of healthcare facilities, women’s entrepreneurship, and Rematriation’s Womxn’s Mixer, all of which left her feeling inspired and empowered. Her favorite session was hosted by the Native BioData Consortium, which brought together her passions for cybersecurity, health research, and Indigenous data sovereignty.
Jada also had the chance to present her summer research, which explored the feasibility of telehealth interventions for opioid use disorder among Native Americans in Oklahoma based on broadband access. As a poster presenter, she loved sharing her research and exchanging ideas with dozens of people. That same day, she stopped by the Exhibitor’s Fair to network with employers and graduate schools.
Outside the conference, Jada shared a meal with close friends at Owamni, one of Minneapolis’s best Indigenous dining experiences, and made a quick stop at Northland Visions to restock her bead supplies. She also reconnected with friends from the 2023 Advancing Native Students in Aging Research program, also hosted in Minneapolis, which made the week feel like a full-circle moment.
Jada left AISES 2025 feeling inspired, reenergized, and grateful for the community she’s found. She can’t wait to see everyone again next year!
