Ella Kohler joined First Nations Development Institute as a Program Officer for the California Tribal Fund in December of 2024.
Originally from Ventura County, California, Ella is a proud member of the Sac and Fox Nation Tribe of Oklahoma. She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, where she gained hands-on experience through student-run programs such as American Indian Recruitment and Retention of American Indians Now! In these roles, Ella supported Native students’ success in higher education through mentorship and advocacy and found great fulfillment in being a resource for students.
Throughout her career, Ella developed a wide range of skills in outreach, retention, and advocacy. She also gained experience in managing budgets and organizing educational initiatives, which she looks forward to applying in her role at First Nations. In her personal time, Ella enjoys running, hiking, cooking and discovering new thrift stores.