Makeiyla Begay of Navajo Technical University

Makeiyla Begay is Tábaahí born for Hashk’aa hadzohí, and she has maternal roots in Ma’ii Deeshgiizhnii and paternal roots in Gah dine’é Táchinii’nii. Originally from Sawmill, Arizona, she was raised in Smith Lake, New Mexico.

Initially, Makaeyla enrolled in the veterinary program, assisting Dr. Daye, before transitioning to the biology program under the mentorship of Dr. Irene Ane-Anyangwe. She and other NTU students participated in summer internships and secured graduate placements.

These opportunities exposed her to leading researchers and advanced science, deeply influencing her. Her research project with Layla James, titled “Bending Dielectric Elastomer Actuators,” placed third in the 11th annual research competition and earned second place at the AIHEC 2024 Student Conference.

Makeiyla said that her research aims to inspire engineered motion in robotics. Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), known for their softness, light weight, and large strokes, especially when prestretched, are promising for artificial muscles.

Makeiyla is now studying veterinary medicine at Colorado State University. She expressed her gratitude to the NTU biology faculty and her commitment to giving back to her community and educational institutions.