Lisa A. Wyzlic

Lisa A. Wyzlic is a direct descendent of Rodney L. Negake of the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians. Ms. Wyzlic is the eldest of two children born to Josephine A.(Vasquez) and Marvin A. Wyzlic and is the granddaughter of Margaret J. (Stone) and James Vasquez. Ms. Wyzlic was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in Harrison, Michigan.

Lisa started her education at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant in Special Education. She then moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1984 where she was employed by the Environmental Protection Agency. She returned to her educational pursuits at Eastern Michigan University in 1987 and graduated with a B.S. in Education with certification in Special Education and Physical Education in 1993. Ms. Wyzlic relocated to the Northern Virginia area in 1995 and taught in public and private school systems in Northern Virginia and Maryland until 2001. Ms. Wyzlic lives in Arlington, Virginia and is currently employed at the Association on American Indian Affairs in Rockville, Maryland. Ms. Wyzlic has a wide variety of experiences and interests and intermittently continues educational pursuits.

Ms. Wyzlic has worked on and off over the past 20 years to learn about her heritage and ancestry. She has a younger brother Scott who resides in Ishpeming, Michigan. Scott's interest in Indian affairs and issues, over the past decade and a half, have led him to immerse himself in the culture. Ms. Wyzlic and Mr. Wyzlic correspond regularly regarding Indian issues, particularly those of the GRBOI.