Kennedy Satterfield
Kennedy Satterfield (Choctaw Nation) is a strategic communicator, digital strategist, and policy advocate whose work sits at the intersection of technology, communications, and Indigenous self-determination. She currently serves as the Communication and Digital Strategy Specialist at the American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) at Arizona State University, where she leads digital initiatives that amplify Indigenous voices, support tribal leaders, and advance understanding of digital sovereignty, broadband access, and emerging technologies in Indian Country.
At AIPI, Kennedy has authored articles, guides, and campaigns on tribal digital sovereignty and technology policy. Her work emphasizes making complex information accessible, actionable, and relevant for diverse audiences. She recently created a foundational guide on digital sovereignty that serves as a roadmap for tribal leaders and advocates navigating broadband, spectrum, and AI policy.
Kennedy brings more than a decade of experience across the tech industry, startups, and nonprofits. Before joining AIPI, she held senior leadership roles at DoorDash during a time of rapid scale. As Senior Manager of Strategy and Operations, she designed and executed cross-functional programs that improved customer retention, increased productivity, and boosted employee engagement. She also led internal communications, change management, and brand storytelling strategies. Her time in the private sector sharpened her ability to connect digital strategy with organizational transformation and to build scalable, people-centered systems.
In addition to her corporate and academic work, Kennedy co-founded a social impact startup, where she supported mission-driven organizations in growing sustainably through strategic storytelling and digital transformation. She continues to advise nonprofits, tribal organizations, and educational institutions on aligning digital vision with long-term impact.
Kennedy earned her M.A. in Strategic Communication from Arizona State University, where her studies focused on digital marketing, brand development, and public affairs. She remains deeply committed to advancing equity, representation, and sovereignty for Native communities, with a focus on digital opportunities and governance in the 21st century.
A proud citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Kennedy brings her identity and values into every aspect of her work. Outside of AIPI, she is an avid reader, nature-lover, and lifelong learner who enjoys hiking, kayaking, climbing, and traveling. She believes that stories—and the digital systems that share them—hold the power to shape a more connected, inclusive, and sovereign future for Indian Country.