Amaya Pablo, a graduate student at Northern Arizona University (NAU), is the winner of this year’s Overcoming Challenges Award, given by the American Chemical Society Women Chemists Committee (WCC). She will receive the award during the WCC Luncheon on Aug. 25, taking place during ACS Fall 2026 in Chicago.
Pablo, who is Hopi and Tohono O’odham, is pursuing a master of public health degree with an emphasis in Indigenous health. This May, she graduated with three bachelor of science degrees from NAU and completed 4 years of undergraduate research addressing Indigenous health disparities through biochemistry.
Being actively involved in research through NAU and Diné College led her to NAU’s Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL), funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Through CEAL, she helped advertise a contest for youth ages 14–25 years to share their experiences and stories of COVID-19 through art; Pablo herself had received a CEAL award for a poem depicting her own experience. Outside of academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys playing disc golf, baking sweet treats, and creating Indigenous beadwork.
Pablo has been the recipient of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, and a travel scholarship to attend the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) national conference.
Part of Pablo’s career goals is to serve her Indigenous community through health advocacy, which includes increasing equitable health care on reservations. She’s committed to supporting Indigenous futures while working to create meaningful change that benefits her community and future generations.
