Native American Heritage Month Spotlight on Markie Wilder
Markie Wilder, UNR Coordinator, Indigenous Student Service
My name is Markie Wilder I am Numu/Kooyooe Tukuadu from Pyramid Lake, Nevada. I grew up on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. I attended Natchez Elementary School, and at a very young age I was involved in many extracurricular activities, like rodeo, powwows, and cross country. As I got older and moved on to middle school and high school I became interested in athletics, and became an outstanding three sport athlete. After completion of high school in 2010, I went on and played two seasons at Feather River College under Head Coach Haley White. I graduated with an Associate Degree Emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences in 2012. In 2012 I transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno and had the opportunity to walk-on to the Women’s Basketball team under Head Coach Jane Albright. After one semester I earned a full-ride scholarship! In 2014 I received my Bachelor of General Studies degree with an emphasis in Community Health Science and Psychology. With dreams and aspirations to work in college athletics, I pursued graduate school and worked as an assistant to the athletic and engineering academic advisors at the University of Nevada, Reno. In 2016 I graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership. After graduate school I worked at Natchez Elementary School through an educational non-profit that provided school-wide and individualized support to students and the community. In 2017 I received my biggest blessing, my daughter Leianna. Since Leianna came into this world our life has slowed down tremendously. Currently we spend most of our time with family and friends traveling all over Indian-country watching our family compete in athletics, rodeo, and powwows. Also, I am an active member of the University of Nevada, Reno Native American Alumni Chapter, and I spend most of my time giving back to students, my community and taking care of my family