Over the past 15 years as a museum professional, Jaclyn Roessel (she/they) confirmed her belief in the power of utilizing cultural learning as a tool to engage while developing thriving communities. As the president of Grownup Navajo, Roessel aims to share how Diné/Indigenous teachings and values are the transformative salve this world needs to encourage greater cultural equity, justice and fulfillment of Indigenous Sovereignty and Collective Liberation.

Jaclyn Roessel was born and raised on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. Her cosmovision is shaped by her photojournalist father and educator mother. She weaves her experience of being a Diné/Scottish-German asdzaan throughout her practice.

As a consultant working with the Frist Art Museum, San Antonio Museum of Art, the UCLA Getty Conservation Program, the Field Museum and Museum of Northern Arizona, she is committed to centering Indigenous perspectives in museums and non-profits. For four years she has partnered with the New Mexico State Personnel Office and the Indian Affairs Department training hundreds of state employees with her curated curriculum, Building Cultural Equity with Native Nations course.

An alumnus from Arizona State University, she was the inaugural recipient of the Arizona Humanities Rising Star Award, which is given to young professionals whose work elevates the importance of humanities in the community. She's been named one of Phoenix 100 Creatives You Should Know. She has held the role director of decolonizing initiatives at the San Diego Museum of Us, where she worked to support and operationalize decolonized methodologies into museums practice. She is a 2023 recipient of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s prestigious 40 Under 40 Award, which recognizes forty emerging American Indians from across Indian Country who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and dedication and made significant contributions in business and/or in their community.

Roessel is one of eight co-founders of Native Women Lead, a 2017-2018 National Art Strategies Creative Community Fellow and a graduate of the Native Entrepreneurs-In-Residence program. She was appointed to the New Mexico Governor’s Council on Racial Justice.

Through all her work, Roessel aims to further inspire Native people to use their traditional knowledge as a catalyst to create change in our communities today. She lives with her husband and children in the Pueblo of Tamaya in what is known today as New Mexico.