Savena Rogers, Kadie Zeller Join Nevada Department of Native American Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8,2026
Contact
Stacey Montooth
Nevada Department of Native American Affairs
Phone: (775) 291-2665
Email: [email protected]
Carson City, Nev. —The Nevada Department of Native American Affairs (DNAA) announced today the appointments of Savena Rogers and Kadie Zeller to key agency roles. Rogers joins the department as a program officer, and Zeller steps into the role of management analyst. Both professionals bring deep cultural ties and strategic expertise to support the state’s Indigenous communities.
Rogers is a citizen of the Yerington Paiute Nation and a descendant of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe. She earned her bachelor’s degree from SAGU American Indian College (now Nelson American Indian College) in 2019, bringing a robust financial and operational skill set to the department. Her dedication to community service is rooted in her ancestry. She carries the legacy of her father, Eddie Rogers, and other relatives who attended the federally operated Stewart Indian Boarding School—an experience that fuels her passion for educational and community advocacy.
Rogers’ profound cultural ties, paired with her education and experience in finance, will directly support Tribal sovereignty and economic development. As a Program Officer, she is dedicated to elevating Native voices and strengthening the socioeconomic welfare of Nevada’s 28 Tribal Nations, Bands, Colonies, and 62,000 Urban Indians.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve my home state, to work alongside our Tribal Nations, and to collaborate in advancing meaningful partnerships that honor the sovereignty, cultures, and contributions of all our communities,” Rogers said. “It is a privilege working at the Stewart Facility, once known as the Stewart Indian Boarding School. This is a place where our rich heritage, traditions, languages, and way of life were once targeted for erasure. Today, it stands as a reminder of both a painful chapter in our history and the resilience of our people.”
“To contribute to preserving and honoring that legacy is a responsibility I carry with great reverence,” Rogers added. “By acknowledging the past while working toward a stronger future, we help ensure that our culture, history, and voices continue to endure for generations to come.”
Zeller, the department’s new Management Analyst, is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a descendant of Kiribati in Oceania. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California San Diego and is a Certified Prevention Specialist in the State of Nevada. Zeller has spent the last decade working across public health, education, advocacy, and nonprofit sectors. Her nonprofit, Om Namo (“Surrender to Creator and Creation”), focuses on community wellness and education through projects like the Moving Forward Together Powwow in Fallon, the Buckaroo Traditions Gathering in Winnemucca, and mindfulness curricula for educators.
Zeller specializes in connecting communities with tools to create positive systems of change and sustain intergenerational healing. She brings an extensive network of partners committed to improving wellness and conserving Nevada’s sacred lands. She remains dedicated to uplifting Indigenous voices and expanding spaces that increase historical preservation, cultural connection, and joy.
“We are creating another transformative chapter for the first people of this land and the Nevada Department of Native American Affairs,” said Stacey Montooth, Executive Director of the DNAA. “I am incredibly proud to welcome Savena and Kadie to our agency. They both bring a powerful blend of traditional knowledge and strategic expertise, plus unwavering dedication to our Tribal communities. Their appointments are a vital step in amplifying Indigenous voices and building future leadership.”
Originally established to serve as a bridge for Tribal-State relations, the DNAA supports the social and economic well-being of Indigenous peoples. The agency acts as a crucial liaison between the State and Nevada’s Tribes, advocating for both rural and urban Indigenous populations.
About the Department of Native American Affairs
Operating as a stand-alone agency since July of 2024, the Nevada Department of Native American Affairs is charged with improving the quality of life for the 28 Tribal governments, Colonies, and Bands, plus 62,000 urban Indians within the State of Nevada. The DNAA works to develop and improve cooperation and communications between Tribal Nations, state and local governments, and related municipalities. Its mission focuses on improving education, employment, health, and socio-economic status while enhancing Tribal sovereignty, economic opportunities, and community development. The Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum, which uses a multimedia approach to preserve the history of Indian Boarding Schools in America, provides a platform for the DNAA for outreach and education about the first people of this land. For more information, visit: dnaa.nv.gov .
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Stacey Montooth
Executive Director
Nevada Department of Native American Affairs
Stewart Indian School
5366 Snyder Avenue
Carson City, NV 89701
[email protected]
(775) 291-2665
