Dr. Diana Gates is an enrolled citizen of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe. She specializes in Tribal affairs, government-to-government relations, and culturally responsive research and technical assistance.
Her work focuses on strengthening partnerships among Tribal Nations, federal agencies, and state governments; advancing Tribal sovereignty and self-determination; and improving policies and programs that support children, families, and communities.
At Mathematica, Dr. Gates leads and supports research, evaluation, and technical assistance initiatives across human services policy areas, including early childhood, child welfare, family support, and Tribal programs. She currently serves as a Tribal subject matter expert on a North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services initiative focused on strengthening state–Tribal coordination across Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Native Employment Works, and housing programs. In this role, she leads quality improvement activities and the development of formal state–Tribal consultation processes and procedures.
Dr. Gates previously served as principal investigator of a national study for the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) and the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation. On this study, she led development of a survey measuring Native American language vitality. She has also supported ANA's efforts to strengthen the use of grant recipient data to inform organizational learning and communicate program outcomes, and she has contributed to research examining Tribal data governance and capacity to support evidence-building. Her broader experience includes research and evaluation of federally funded family support and youth development programs, including the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education National Evaluation.
Before joining Mathematica, Dr. Gates managed technical assistance for the Tribal Child Care Capacity Building Center and the National Center on Tribal Early Childhood Development, supporting Tribal Nations in strengthening early childhood programs, building organizational capacity, and navigating federal child care policies and requirements. Prior to that, she worked at the Administration for Native Americans, supporting federal initiatives focused on Tribal self-determination, community-driven development, and the priorities of Native communities. Drawing on her experience in federal service, research, and technical assistance, Dr. Gates brings an understanding of the policies, systems, and relationships that shape how governments and communities work together. She holds a doctorate in social work from Tulane University and a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.
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