Nazune Menka of Seattle University School of Law a 2024-2025 Obama Foundation Leader

Today, Nazune Menka, an assistant professor of law at Seattle University School of Law, announced that she is among 205 leaders selected to join the Obama Foundation Leaders program. The program trains participants around the world in leadership development and civic engagement to help build their skills and scale their work across public, private and nonprofit sectors. Menka is one of just 100 Leaders participating in the Leaders USA program.  

In addition to her role as a faculty member, Menka—who is Denaakk’e (Koyukon Athabaskan) and Lumbee—currently serves as faculty director of the Center for Indian Law and Policy at the law school. By building coalitions, legitimating a plurality of worldviews and increasing self-determination for Native Nations, peoples and communities, Menka believes a more just and equitable society is possible.  

Before joining Seattle University Law, Menka served as executive director of the Center for Indigenous Law & Justice at University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Prior to this she served in several capacities at Berkeley Law, including in the Environmental Law Clinic as a supervising attorney and a lecturer, as well as a policy fellow with the Tribal Cultural Resources Project. 

As part of the six-month leaders program, these dedicated changemakers will convene virtually each week for interactive sessions designed to help them drive change by honing their leadership skills, building deep relationships with peers and engaging with thought leaders and members of the Obama Foundation. They will also have an opportunity to participate in various virtual experiences and special events, including one-on-one conversations with experienced mentors in the Foundation's global network.  

The Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program, now in its second year, was inspired by the leadership values and approach of the former President and Mrs. Michelle Obama. The program draws on the Foundation’s “Hope to Action” curriculum to support leaders in engaging diverse perspectives, building collective power and making tangible, sustainable progress toward a better world. The Leaders USA Program has a particular focus on strengthening democratic culture and is designed to further inspire, empower and connect emerging leaders from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States to change their respective communities and the world. To learn more, visit obama.org/leaders. 

To learn more about Nazune Menka, visit the Seattle University Law website. For media inquiries contact David Sandler at sandlerdavid@seattleu.edu.  

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