Jessica James

Ms. Jessica James is an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall, Idaho, with additional affiliation to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and the Washoe Tribe. She serves as the Tribal Education Program & Library Manager for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, where she leads strategic initiatives that strengthen academic pathways, cultural preservation, and communitydriven educational services.

Ms. James holds an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts (2003) and a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies (2004) from Haskell Indian Nations University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Indigenous Nations Studies (2008) from the University of Kansas, specializing in Cultural Preservation Management and Indigenous Museum Studies. She currently serves as the Northwest Regional Representative and Secretary on the National Haskell Board of Regents Executive Council. In June of 2026, sheb was elected Chairperson of the Idaho Indian Education Committee under the Idaho State Board of Education. Her leadership experience includes serving on the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Native American Employment and Training Council (2010–2014) and as a board member of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes CDFI since 2019.

Ms. James is dedicated to expanding educational and workforce opportunities forbNative American learners. Her work includes grant development, program coordination, and cross-sector collaboration to support cultural values, academic success, and leadership development. She mentors youth and adults, empowering them to pursue higher education and become culturally grounded leaders within their communities.