Mary Bodine-Watts

Mary Bodine-Watts

Class of 2009, JD ’13
Happy Valley, Oregon
Chair, Equity and Inclusion Committee

Mary is an original Oregonian born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She grew up in southeast Portland where she attended David Douglas High School. After high school, Mary continued her educational pursuit at Lewis & Clark College. Ever since, she has remained associated with the school in various roles.

Mary started at Lewis & Clark in 2006 as an environmental studies major. She was the President of the Native American Student Union which hosted the annual Lewis & Clark College Powwow. During her years in the environmental studies program, Mary focused her studies on indigenous interactions with the natural environment specifically looking at traditional consumption of salmon. In 2010 she continued her studies as a law student at the Northwestern School of Law. She received a Juris Doctor Degree in 2013. She also received an Environmental Certificate with an emphasis in Federal Indian Law. While in law school, Mary clerked for the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

After law school, Mary was the recipient of the Hatfield Fellowship, sponsored by the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. She worked in the United States House of Representatives for Congressman DeFazio. Mary currently works as an attorney-advisor for Bonneville Power Administration’s power section. She is an active member of Bonneville’s American Indian and Alaska Native Committee.

In addition to her work with Bonneville, Mary serves as adjunct faculty at the Northwestern School of Law where she teaches the Native American Law Student Association Moot Court class and co-teaches the Federal Indian Law seminar course.

In her free time, Mary serves as a co-director of Northstar Dance Company—a Native American performing arts group devoted to sharing Native American music, culture, and dance, with the general public. She also enjoys running, hiking, snowboarding and almost any outdoor activity or adventure. Mary recently married her best friend, and also L&C Alum, Kai Watts. They were married in the Estate Gardens under the Wisteria Arbor. Mary is an enrolled citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.