Shaliyah Ben is a lecturer, educator, and promoter of American Indian arts and culture and originally hails from the Navajo Nation; she was born in Shiprock, New Mexico where her family still practices traditional farming methods in the San Juan River Valley. Shaliyah is an alumna of both the Idyllwild Arts Children’s Center and Summer Youth Programs, and prior to joining Idyllwild Arts as Assistant Director and later Director of the Native American Arts Program, she worked at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ. During her 20-year tenure at the Heard, she held multiple roles in both the Education and Curatorial Departments, and also served as the Director of Public Programming. Shaliyah enjoys spending time with her dog Amira and her family and friends. She is a violin player, French speaker, and lover of the color pink. Shaliyah has a BA in French, and certificates in both Arabic Language and Islamic Studies from Arizona State University.