Meet Our Team

Principal Investigator monica.skewes@montana.edu

Monica Skewes is a health psychologist who specializes in community engaged research with Indigenous communities. Her work is focused on understanding and treating addictive behaviors. She is a professor in the Psychology Department at Montana State University and is affiliated with the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity (https://www.montana.edu/cairhe/), which funded the pilot studies that led to Indigenous Recovery Planning. Dr. Skewes has been working in partnership with the Fort Peck tribes on health equity research since 2014.

Co-Principal Investigator

Vivian M. Gonzalez is a clinical psychologist who specializes in substance disorders etiology and treatment. She is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage and Program Director for the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology, with Rural and Indigenous Emphasis. Dr. Gonzalez aided in the development of the IRP intervention and has helped to train facilitators and monitor the fidelity of IRP delivery.

Project Manager jalden@fpcc.edu

I have my bachelors degree in social work. I previously worked for John's Hopkins as a research interventionist before moving over to work for the IRP project. Was the former project coordinator, now the project manager of the IRP grant.

Research Coordinator- amy.stix@montana.edu

Amy Stix serves as the research coordinator of the IRP program and has worked at MSU-Bozeman for the past 12 years.

Community Research Associate

Marty is a social worker.  He was Director of The Chante Project and moved over to work on the IRP Project in 2021.  He has 3+ years of working in research.  He is leaving this amazing team to travel on to new and exciting paths.  He is very thankful for this amazing opportunity and will still be working with this project through contracting.  

IRP Facilitator

I am an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Tribes and work as a program development specialist at Spotted Bull Recovery Center. I am a facilitator for the IRP program.

IRP Facilitator

Ashley Solheim - Azure, was born and raised in Wolf Point, MT.  She spent over a decade of her life battling addiction.  Her story is filled with grief, trauma, treatment, relapses, and even a federal prison sentence. Thankfully her story did not end there.  Her journey has since been filled with healing, forgiveness, and an incredible passion to help others who are struggling.  Ashley works as a facilitator for the Indigenous Recovery Planning project. 

Mental Health Specialist

Proud member of the Nakoda People from the Makoche, Earth and the Winchastabi, Stars.  Strong commitment to serve and protect the integrity of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Nation.  I work as a mental health specialist at the Fort Peck Service Unit.

Statistician

Ben is a developmental psychologist and applied statistician who specializes in understanding how normative (e.g., belongingness) and non-normative experiences (e.g., maltreatment, trauma, and loss) intersect with childhood adjustment, civic engagement, and positive wellbeing. He provides theoretical, methodological, and analytic research support for the IRP project.

Research Associate

Julie is a researcher dedicated to addressing health disparities among American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Her work emphasizes community-based participatory approaches and the development of culturally adapted interventions. Julie has worked with the IRP project since 2016 and is excited to see the positive impact it has had on people trying to maintain their sobriety.

Consultant

I live in Bozeman have my own counseling practice. Worked in the behavioral health field since 2001. Became a Licensed Addiction Counselor in MT in July. Worked at Ft Peck since 2014. I think I’m really fortunate to be a part of this project.  

I love FP and love the people we work with at FP.

Database Manager

Eliza is a Research Project Manager at Montana State University's Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity (CAIRHE) and is currently serving as the database manager for this project.  Her background is in social and behavioral health research with 10+ years experience, including more than 5 years of experience employing community-based participatory research methods at CAIRHE. 

Graduate Research Assistant

Fiona is a graduate student in the Indigenous & Rural Health PhD program at Montana State University. She is a cisgender, white, queer woman of European descent, primarily Irish & Spanish. She has 5+ years of experience working on research in partnership with Indigenous communities to support mental and behavioral health and health equity. Specifically, she is interested in work related to substance use and suicide prevention. Throughout all of her work, Fiona strives to be a co-conspirator and to support the health equity and sovereignty of Tribal Nations.

Graduate Research Assistant

Morgan Neavill is a Ph.D. Candidate at Montana State University studying Psychological Science, advised by Dr. Skewes. Morgan joined the IRP project in 2021 and assists with a variety of research tasks, often working on data entry.

Research Assistant

Shannon is thankful to continue to learn from and support the IRP Team with data entry. She continues to remain grounded in CBPR lessons of humility and partnership in her current work as a public health nurse.