Avery Tilley

University of Georgia, Ilíiaitchik: Indigenous Correspondents Program (ICP)

Major / Minor: Veterinary Medicine

Graduation Year: 2027

Avery Tilley is currently pursuing a doctorate of veterinary medicine at the University of Georgia with a focus on conservation medicine. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a proud indigenous scientist holding two bachelors of science degrees from Michigan State University in fisheries and wildlife management and molecular genetics and genomics. Tilley is passionate about conservation through the lens of wildlife disease and indigenous knowledge, working with tribal nations on collaborative, reciprocal wildlife health research. In 2023, Tilley was named an inaugural Braveheart Fellow by the Center for Native American Youth, a Darwin 200 Leader, and was the first Native American to be selected by National Geographic as a Young Explorer. He has used these opportunities to expand and communicate conservation resources for Native American youth, specifically around wildlife health. Tilley has also championed tribal wildlife issues on the national and international stages serving as a panel moderator during the 2023 White House Tribal Youth Forum and as a delegate at the United Nations COP15 in Montreal. Tilley serves as Chair-Elect of the Native Peoples Wildlife Management Working Group through The Wildlife Society and as a Youth Council member for Reserva: The Youth Land Trust. Tilley hopes to one day serve as a tribal veterinarian, assisting tribes with wildlife disease monitoring and mitigation across their historic lands.