Welcome, 

My name is Dena Timmons. I grew up in Sonoma County, sixty miles north of San Francisco, California. The area is home to Ancient Coast Redwood trees the tallest living entity in the world and was home to the late Charles Schulz—creator and illustrator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and friends. The area borders the coastline of the Pacific Ocean and is known for award winning restaurants and wines.

My grandmother was born at home on the Bishop-Paiute reservation in eastern California. As a child she, like many other Indigenous children, was removed from her home and placed in a residential school. After some time, she returned to her family but had experienced immense trauma. My grandmother was involved in my life until her passing in my late twenties.

When I was eleven years old my mother taught me to bead and to make dreamcatchers of which I continue to practice today. I began attending Powwows when I was young—eventually selling products and my jewelry at said events. My daughter and I are learning our native language and I also speak some Spanish. 

During my formative years I operated as a Direct Marketing Manager and as an Executive Assistant. I also served in Hospitality, Sales, and in Early Childhood Education—contributing to my community with a high level of care and professionalism.

In my mid-thirties I began attending the Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California, of which has a long history of academic excellence and is the first choice for acceptance into California's prestigious University System. While at the Santa Rosa Junior College I earned, with high honors, an Associate in Arts of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Social Justice, Early Childhood Development, a Teacher's Certificate, an Early Childhood Teacher permit, and I am continuing to advance my education in Graphic Art and Art.

In the fall of 2020 I began attending Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California. My entire college experience has been as a single mother of which taught me perseverance and unfaltering dedication. Managing college during the pandemic, the Tubbs Fire (2017), and the Glass Fire (2020), which burned one mile from my home, also taught me resilience and self-discipline. 

I graduated Sonoma State University in 2022 earning a Bachelor in Arts of Liberal Studies (Dean's List) with a concentration in Human Development and a second concentration in Visual and Performing Arts.