Janne Underriner, PhD, is a Research Associate Professor at the Northwest Indian Language Institute (NILI). She co-founded NILI with Tribes of the Pacific Northwest in 1997-98 in response to their Native language teacher training requests. Dr. Underriner served as co-Director from 1998-2004, and as Director from 2005-2021. A trained descriptive linguist and language teacher, Dr. Underriner has developed and implemented Native American language (NAL) curriculum with Tribal communities, Oregon school districts and the UO. She contributes to state and local NAL policy with Oregon’s Office of Indian Education and Oregon Tribes. Dr. Underriner’s work on research praxis in Native language, culture and health embraces collaborative relationships that strengthen Tribal communities and academic institutions. She mentors UO linguistic and education graduate students and Tribal NAL teachers. Dr. Underriner directs the University of Oregon’s Northwest Regional Native American Language Resource Center.