Crystal Stiles

Dr. Crystal Stiles is the Tribal Engagement Coordinator for NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System. She joined the NIDIS staff in 2021 to work toward implementing NIDIS' Tribal Drought Engagement Strategy across its network of 8 regional drought early warning systems. Since then, she has built and maintained relationships with tribal nations and has positioned NIDIS to provide additional support for tribal drought resilience. Crystal also serves on several inter- and intra-agency working groups and committees aimed at better coordinating drought resilience efforts that benefit Tribal Nations.

Prior to her time with NIDIS, Crystal was an Applied Climatologist with the High Plains Regional Climate Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) where she directed both the stakeholder and tribal engagement programs. She also worked on projects with the National Drought Mitigation Center. Crystal received her Ph.D. in Natural Resource Sciences with a specialization in Climate Assessment and Impacts from UNL, and her B.S. in Geography (Meteorology-Climatology track) and M.S. in Geoscience from Western Kentucky University. Crystal's graduate work focused on drought impacts and drought planning.