MEET ASHLEY

ASHLEY HAMILTON

Hocak (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, citizen), Kiikapoa (Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, descendant)

University of Michigan Law SchooL

Class of 2026

Ashley Hamilton (she/hers) is a citizen of the Winnebago Tribe in Nebraska and a descendant of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas. Ashley is a University of Michigan Law School 2026 J.D. Candidate and holds an A.B. in Sociology with a secondary in Economics, honors, from Harvard University. Ashley is a PLSI 2022 graduate. In the 2024 spring, Ashley was elected as Co-President of Michigan Law’s Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) and Treasurer of National NALSA (NNALSA). During the 2024 summer, Ashley is a Fellow at the UCLA Law San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Tribal Legal Development Clinic. 

In 2023, Ashley participated in the Sponsors for Educational Opportunities (SEO) Law Fellowship Program, learning best practices and tips for success in law school and at law firms. Through SEO, Ashley spent two weeks in a legal intensive and eight weeks at the Akin DC office, as a part of Akin’s summer associate program. Previously, Ashley worked at the Winnebago Tribe’s Economic Development corporation, Ho-Chunk, Inc. (HCI), assessing and responding to policy that impacted the Winnebago Tribe or HCI’s scope of work or interest. Prior to HCI, Ashley worked at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) as a Research Associate with a portfolio including tribal governance best practices research and writing in food sovereignty, juvenile justice, and economic development. Ashley co-managed the Tribal Food Sovereignty Advancement Initiative and the Ending Indian Mascots campaign at NCAI, wherein she became an in-house expert on tribal food sovereignty programs and state policies and legislation banning Native-themed mascots.

Ashley is dedicated to community building and development for Tribal Nations and Tribal Communities. She is passionate about community building for Indigenous students in higher education, serving on various boards and committees throughout her academic career. Ashley currently serves as a Board Director for Native American Alumni of Harvard University (NAAHU) and a Task Force Member for NNALSA’s Community Townhall Task Force. She has previously held various leadership positions such as Secretary of NAAHU, Co-President of Native’s at Harvard College (NaHC), and Chair of Harvard’s Ivy Native Council Fall Summit Planning Committee, among others.