Naomi Marilyn Bender

Naomi Marilyn Bender, Ph.D., currently serves as the Director of Native American Health Sciences and Director of the Center for Native American Health at Washington State University Spokane since October 2018. Dr. Bender has been a Senior Project Coordinator for the North Dakota Behavioral Health Workforce Development & Free Through Recovery Project at the Center for Rural Health, University of North Dakota, since August 2006. Prior experience includes roles as Program Coordinator and Student Services Officer for the INMED program at the University of North Dakota, which supports Native American students pursuing health careers. Additionally, Naomi served as a State Trooper K9 Handler for the North Dakota Highway Patrol from January 1999 to February 2005. Educational credentials include a Ph.D. in Teaching & Learning from the University of North Dakota, earned between 2011 and 2017, a Master's degree in Organizational Communication from the same institution (2006-2009), and a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Dakota (1995-1999).