Melissa Castiano

Melissa Castiano is a member of the Navajo Nation from northwest New Mexico. She is of the Mexican Clan, born for the Salt Clan, with ties to the Red Running Into Water Clan through her maternal grandfather, and Mexican Clan through her paternal grandfather. Melissa earned a B.S. in Wildlife Science from New Mexico State University and began her federal career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2002.

For over two decades, she served in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Wildlife Biologist, National Native Youth Climate Adaptation and Leadership Congress (NYCALC) Program Coordinator, Regional Native American Liaison, and most recently as the National Park Service Native American Affairs Program Manager. She specialized in Tribal relations, Indigenous leadership, conservation, climate adaptation, and strengthening government-to-government relationships between Tribal Nations and the federal government. Notably, she worked extensively with Native youth and helped develop opportunities for the next generation of Indigenous conservation leaders.

Melissa is currently a Master in Public Administration student at the Harvard Kennedy School. Her goal is to help reshape institutional capacity and leadership to address future challenges. She plans to play an integral role in building stronger, more ethical institutions, improving government-to-government relationships, and advancing innovative policies and practices that benefit the American people, particularly Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities.

Outside of her academic and professional work, Melissa enjoys snowboarding, hiking, backpacking, camping, biking, running, working out, horror and science-fiction books, movies, and spending time with her dog, Sage.