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Affie Ellis Highlight
Affie Ellis
Wyoming State Senator
Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.
About Affie
- I grew up in Jackson, Wyoming, as the youngest of four children to my parents, who are full Navajo.
- As a teenager, I would help my mom clean motel rooms as a summertime job—seeing the extra wealth the guests had made me curious about how my own life would turn out.
- I did an internship in high school with the Wyoming legislature—I discovered that I really enjoyed the political process, and used that passion to guide the rest of my career choices.
- I went to the University of Wyoming and earned my degree in political science and American Indian studies.
- After graduating, I worked for a senator who represented Wyoming and sat on the U.S. Senate Committees on Indian Affairs and Energy and Natural Resources—two issues I wanted to hone in on.
- I earned my law degree from the University of Colorado Law School—during this time, I was appointed to serve as director of congressional and public affairs for the National Indian Gaming Commission.
- After law school, I was appointed to serve on the Tribal Law and Order Commission.
- In 2016, I ran for the Wyoming Senate and won—I currently represent southwest Laramie County and am the first Native American to serve in the Wyoming Senate.
