Kelsey Leonard

Kelsey Leonard is a water governance researcher specializing in Indigenous water rights at the University of Waterloo.^[1] She was the first Native American woman to earn a science degree from the University of Oxford, which she earned in 2012.^[2] She earned an MSc in water science, policy and management from St. Cross College,^[3] one of the thirty-eight colleges of the University of Oxford.^[2] Her master's thesis, “Water Quality For Native Nations: Achieving A Trust Responsibility”, discusses water quality regulation and how water resources on tribal land are not protected.^[4]

Kelsey Leonard
Nationality	Shinnecock Nation
Academic background
Alma mater	Harvard University (B.A.) University of Oxford (M.Sc.) Duquesne University School of Law (J.D.) McMaster University (Ph.D.)
Academic work
Institutions	University of Waterloo
Website	https://www.kelseyleonard.com

Kelsey Leonard is an enrolled member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and is originally from the Shinnecock Indian Reservation on Long Island, New York.^[5][6][7] In 2010, she was the first member of the Shinnecock Nation to graduate from Harvard University.^[8][4] Her Harvard degree is a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and anthropology with a secondary field in ethnic studies.

Leonard earned a JD from Duquesne University School of Law, and a PhD in political science from McMaster University.^[1] She is now an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo.^[1]

Leonard's TED Talk, "Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans", has had 3.5 million views as of October 2023.^[9]

References

1. "Kelsey Leonard |". University of Waterloo: School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
2. "Shinnecock Kelsey Leonard - 1st American Indian Woman-Oxford". NativeNewsNetwork. 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
3. Goldstein, Ben (October 19, 2012). "First Native American woman to get Oxon degree".
4. "Shinnecock Member Is First Woman to Graduate from England's Oxford University". Indian Country Today. Indian Country Media Network. 2012-10-15. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
5. Newman, Jesse (January 16, 2013). "Shinnecock trailblazer returns to help". Newsday.
6. "STX student Kelsey Leonard is the first Native American woman to graduate from Oxford University". Stx.ox.ac.uk. 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
7. "We Are Harvard". Hunap.harvard.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
8. "Shinnecock Woman First Native American Female To Graduate From Oxford University". October 10, 2012.
9. "Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans". 13 December 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2023.