Tracey Begaye
Senior in Computer Engineering with College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences - Forthcoming Masters Student in Forestry with School of Forestry
About Me
My name is Tracey Begaye. I am apart of the Navajo tribe from Gallup, New Mexico. I am a senior majoring in Computer Engineering with aspirations to pursue a Masters in Forestry. Computer engineering has significantly influenced a career in the renewable energy fields by giving the technological skills and tools necessary to optimize, monitor, and control renewable energy systems. Upon graduation, I hope to integrate both degrees to employ remote sensing technologies and drones equipped with various sensors to monitor and assess the health of forests. I also want to develop systems that can automatically detect changes in vegetation, assess the impact of deforestation, or identify areas prone to wildfires.
Work History
School of Forestry, Flagstaff, AZ: Undergraduate Research Assistant
August 2023 - Current
August 2023 - Current
Capture high-resolution imagery using drones and data over forested areas to assess vegetation health, detect changes, and monitor potential threats like deforestation and wildfire-prone zones.
Develop automated systems that leverage machine learning to assess the impact of deforestation and identify areas susceptible to wildfires, providing timely and actionable insights for forest management.
Compile and present research findings in a clear and accessible manner, contributing valuable insights to ongoing efforts in sustainable forest management and conservation.
Office of Indigenous Student Success, Flagstaff, AZ: Indige-Peer Mentor
August 2020 – May 2023
August 2020 – May 2023
Adapted 75+ incoming Indigenous students to have a smooth transition to university life by providing strategies and resources for success
Designed 50+ flyers to help promote campus events, scholarships, internships, careers, etc.
Hosted virtual and in-person events to help students get involved with campus and develop connections
NAU/NASA Space Grant, Flagstaff, AZ: Undergraduate Research Assistant Intern August 2022 – May 2023
Applied Structure from Motion (SfM) technology to collect images for predicting forest fire behavior, wildlife habitat, and climate vulnerability on Tribal (Navajo Nation), Forest Service, and state lands
Utilized drones to fly over forests at fine scales to generate 3D spatial data using software
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, Fort Defiance, AZ: Water & Land Management Intern
June 2022 – August 2022
June 2022 – August 2022
Focused on addressing water and land management and policy issues relevant to tribal communities
Maintained a cloud-based web application - the Drought Severity Evaluation Tool (DSET) - to improve drought reporting and management in the Navajo Nation
Documented weekly reports to review the week's data and activities and evaluate the project's progress
NAU/NASA Space Grant, Flagstaff, AZ: American Indian Mobile Educational Resources Intern
August 2021 – April 2022
August 2021 – April 2022
Presented hands-on space science lessons/activities to teach concepts of physics, astronomy, and engineering to Native American students at K-12 schools on rural Indian reservations in Arizona
Assisted with equipment set up for evening star parties in conjunction with classroom activities
Arranged supplies, resources, and educational content for presentations and events
Awards
- Gold Axe Award Recipient
- Northern Arizona University's Engineering Fest 2022
1st in the Electrical Engineering category
- NAU Lumberjack Scholar
- Freeport-McMoRan Native American Scholar
- College of Engineering & Applied Sciences Scholarship Recipient
- Navajo Nation Scholarship Recipient
- Tribal Solar Accelerator Solar Fund Scholar
Contact Information
