Geneva Thompson

Geneva E. B. Thompson (she/her/hers) joined the California Natural Resources Agency in June 2021 as the Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs. In this role, Geneva will cultivate and ensure the participation and inclusion of tribal governments and communities within the work of the California Natural Resources Agency. She recently served as Associate General Counsel for the Yurok Tribe, where she practiced environmental and cultural resource law and represented the Yurok Tribe in tribal, state, and federal forums. She also served as Staff Attorney for the Wishtoyo Foundation, and clerked with the Department of Justice Indian Resource Section, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute. Geneva graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, with specializations in Critical Race Studies and Public Interest Law and Policy. She has published several law review articles and has served in leadership positions across multiple bar associations, including the National Native American Bar Association, California Indian Law Association, and the American Bar Association. Geneva is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and enjoys beading, gardening, and hiking with her spouse in state and national parks.