Melissa Candelaria is the Education Director at NMCLP, where she leads education policy initiatives rooted in community voice, and is part of the legal team for the Yazzie plaintiffs in Yazzie/Martinez v. State of New Mexico. Melissa has over 30 years of policy, legal, and advocacy experience. Committed to serving New Mexican and Tribal communities, she has worked with federal, state and tribal governments on a wide range of issues including, education, health, child welfare, tribal courts, and the promotion and protection of tribal sovereignty. She is a proud citizen of the Pueblo of San Felipe.