Desi Small-Rodriguez

Desi Small-Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and American Indian Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Their work focuses on critical quantitative and mixed-methods research at the intersection of race, indigeneity, and data-driven inequality. They specialize in survey research partnerships with Indigenous communities, emphasizing Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance through their Data Warriors Lab. Key areas include tribal data systems, health disparities, and challenges in census undercounting.

Research interests span Indigenous studies, political sociology, and science and technology studies. Recent work addresses AI ethics, tribal sovereignty, and pandemic impacts on Native communities. The Data Warriors Lab operationalizes Indigenous-led data practices to support self-determined futures. Current projects include tribal data linkage systems and critiques of racialized census methodologies.

Notable contributions include advancing the CARE principles for Indigenous data governance and analyzing disparities in health outcomes using tribally disaggregated data. Their research bridges academic theory with community-driven solutions, prioritizing partnerships with Native Nations and grassroots organizations.

Grants and lab activities include a recent $1M grant funding graduate and undergraduate researchers, as well as collaborations on tribal data infrastructure projects. Academic advising focuses on training scholars committed to ethical Indigenous research methodologies.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Data Warriors Lab, an Indigenous social science laboratory advancing data sovereignty through community-university partnerships.