Roxanne Ornelas

Roxanne Ornelas holds a joint appointment as Associate Professor in the Department of Global & Intercultural Studies and the Department of Geography at Miami University. She is also affiliate faculty in the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability. Her interdisciplinary work bridges environmental policy, indigenous lifeways, and feminist studies, with a focus on Indigenous women's roles in water resource protection. Ornelas earned her PhD in Geography from the University of Minnesota, emphasizing environmental policy, and is the first in her family to attend college—a legacy now perpetuated through her family and mentorship of first-generation students.

Education: PhD in Geography (Environmental Policy), University of Minnesota; B.A. details unspecified.

Research interests emphasize the sacred relationship between Indigenous communities and water, integrating feminist perspectives to address environmental challenges threatening culturally significant lands. She advocates for culturally responsive environmental policies that honor indigenous worldviews.

Teaching philosophy emphasizes active, engaged classrooms where students' lived experiences are valued. Courses include WGS 201 (Introduction to Women's Studies) and WGS/GEO 309 (Native American Women). She encourages student creativity in projects while maintaining core academic objectives.

Leadership roles include directing Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies within Global & Intercultural Studies. Upcoming initiatives include co-hosting the Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Symposium (Spring 2017) with Wright State University, showcasing Miami's interdisciplinary strengths.