Ken Lucero

Dr. Ken Lucero, a proud member of the Pueblo of Zia and also hailing from the Pueblo of Cochiti, has dedicated over two decades working to improve the health and welfare of his people and all tribal communities. Guided by the values of family and community, Dr. Lucero’s endeavors are deeply rooted in these principles.

Dr. Lucero holds the role of Director of Tribal and Indigenous Lands at the Trust for Public Land where he supports Tribal and Indigenous communities and their efforts to reconnect to their ancestral lands and honor and maintain native culture, sovereignty and traditions.

His impactful journey has also included serving as the Tribal Administrator for Zia Pueblo, where he is still an active member on the Zia Tribal Council; Field Representative for US Senator Martin Heinrich; and as Director for RWJF Center for Native American Health Policy at the University of New Mexico.

Dr. Lucero holds a PhD in Social Justice from Arizona State University. His studies focused on the complexities of health and health care between the western medicine delivery system and Pueblo ideologies of health. His current research interests include the incorporation of Pueblo values into tribal governance systems in order to decolonize the delivery of tribal programs and to restore traditional ways of life.

Prior to his academic studies, Dr. Lucero served on numerous health-related boards and committees on behalf of the Zia Pueblo and other tribes at the tribal, state, and national level. Notable appointments include Chairman of the DHHS Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee and the Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee. Dr. Lucero is a graduate of a RWJF Fellowship Program: Ladders to Leadership and has also received the Indian Health Service Director’s Award.