Misty (Thomas) Flowers is a member of the Santee Sioux Nation and a descendant of the Tlingit of Alaska. With nearly 20 years of experience in child welfare—including 12 years leading her Tribe’s social services department—she is a recognized leader in Indigenous advocacy. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and has served as a Diligent Recruitment Advisor at the National Center for Diligent Recruitment. She is a longtime leader with the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition, currently serving on its board of directors, and has co-led the Honoring Indigenous Families research project.
Her honors include being named a White House Champion of Change, receiving the Early Achiever Award from the University of Nebraska Alumni Association, and induction into the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center Wall of Fame. As Executive Director of the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition, she helped the organization earn the NICWA Member of the Year Award. She is excited to join the NICWA team and remains committed to advancing Tribal child welfare and strengthening ICWA systems for the protection of Native children.