Niki Sandoval

Overview

Niki Sandoval brings 30 years of experience working with American Indian communities and cultural and educational institutions on educational and economic advancement. She partners with tribal, local, state, and federal agency leaders in strategic resource allocation, development, and planning. Sandoval provides consulting, technical assistance, professional learning, and facilitation services. A Continuing Lecturer in education at the University of California, Santa Barbara for 21 years, Sandoval speaks on American Indian family, community, and government engagement to improve student outcomes.

Sandoval leads a resource development team that has secured more than $27 million in private, state, and federal investments in local infrastructure for tribal government clients. Sandoval has directed strategic organizational and resource allocation reviews for school districts, which resulted in significant cost savings through improved billing structures for behavioral health services and increased operational efficiencies by redistributing district office responsibilities. She facilitates strategic planning and technical assistance in partnership with local, tribal, state, and federal entities to achieve more equitable outcomes for students, families, and communities.

Prior to joining WestEd, Sandoval was the Education Director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (2009–2020). She worked with Native youth and adults to map learning, career, and community pathways, resulting in 97–100 percent high school graduation rates and tripled college graduation rates during a 10-year period. A first-generation college graduate from the Santa Ynez Indian Reservation in rural California, Sandoval began her academic journey at Allan Hancock Community College. In fulfillment of her passion for public service, she served two terms as a member of the California State Board of Education (2013–2020).

Education

PhD in education, University of California, Santa Barbara
MA in museum studies, The George Washington University
BA in public relations, Pepperdine University

Select Publications

Sandoval, N. I., & Gibson, J. (2024).Indigenous pathways in planning for college, career, and community life [Microcourse]. Western Educational Equity Assistance Center at WestEd. https://weeac.wested.org/indigenous-pathways-in-planning-for-college-career-and-community/

Sandoval, N., Gurrola, E., Ferrell, R., & Hoang, T. (2022). Strategic investments of one-time funds for tribal governments. WestEd. https://www.wested.org/resources/strategic-investments-of-one-time-funds-for-tribal-governments/ Sandoval, N. I. (2017). A Circle of Promise for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. In On Indian Ground: California (pp. 49–60). Information Age.

Honor, Awards, and Affiliations

Sandoval, N. I. (2022, June). Kalaspi: Breathe on [Keynote address]. California Polytechnic University School of Education Commencement, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States.

Sandoval, N. I. (2020, January). Sapiwil: Build a fire [Illustrated lecture]. Presented to Native Americans in the 21st–century: Nation Building I students, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.

Sandoval, N. I. (2019, June). Kalaspi: Breathe on [Keynote address]. University of California, Santa Barbara Graduate Division Commencement, Santa Barbara, CA, United States.

Sandoval, N. I. (2019, May). Amuyich: Spirit of Generosity [Keynote address]. Allan Hancock College Scholarship Banquet, Santa Maria, CA, United States. Sandoval, N. I. (2019, January). Improving outcomes for Native American students [Workshop]. Presented to tribal leaders and superintendents at Shasta County Office of Education, Redding, CA, United States.