We Design Systems That Can Hold Change
Most organizations don’t fail because they lack vision. They fail because their systems cannot hold the complexity of their mission.
Transcending Strategies works at the intersection of people, structure, and power, bridging strategy, policy, leadership, and care into systems that are coherent, resilient and alive.
We act as Relational Architects, designing for long-term impact.
Our Approach
The TS Alchemy Model is our culturally grounded framework for turning complexity into clear direction—without flattening the lived realities, relational responsibilities, and spiritual/cultural context that make Indigenous-led work distinct. It is built for organizations doing urgent work with limited capacity and high emotional load.
Alchemy, for us, means transforming what an organization is already carrying, stories, data, hard truths, competing demands, into a shared plan that is coherent, doable, and sustaining.
Research Consulting
Research Consulting. As a scientific advisor on the Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO) prospective cohort study that examines the association between lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, medication use) on fertility and pregnancy, I am part of a diverse panel of experts informing the development of research questions designed to impact public health.
Policy Change
Systems and Policy Changes to Improve Native American Maternal Health Outcomes and Health Equity. Leveraging my expertise in the experiences of Native American pregnant women in health care through my work, I have consulted with tribes, Indian Health services and health care organization to reduce barriers to care and improve health care quality. As founder of Changing Woman Initiative, I have advocated for policy change to improve health outcomes including access to midwifery support for Native American families.
What guides my Practice
Every engagement is grounded in six integrated dimensions:
Strategy - clarifying direction, priorities, and leverage
Healing - acknowledging history, harm, and burnout
Design - shaping structures, governance, and systems that match values
Policy - translating lived experience into structural and legislative change
Narrative - shifting how stories, power, and meaning through systems
Infrastructure - ensuring ideas are supported by operations, resources, and accountability
Awards& Past Work
Native American Women’s Reproductive Health. I have significant depth and breadth of expertise in Native American’s reproductive health and wellness through my clinical background and years of work as a midwife serving Native women. I founded the Changing Woman Initiative, the first reproductive wellness center, specifically designed for Native Americans in the United States. Through this organization, I have been instrumental in training Indigenous midwives and developing a fellowship opportunity for midwifery students.
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July 2002-June 2006 Staff Nurse at Los Alamos Medical Center
June 2006- June 2008 Staff Nurse at Santa Fe Indian Medical Center
May 2008-Feb 2012 Staff Nurse at Los Alamos Medical Center
Nov 2022-July 2013 PRN Nurse-Midwife at ABQ Health Partners
June 2012-2018 Full-time Nurse-Midwife
August 2014- present Founder & Executive and Midwifery Director of Changing Woman Initiative
2012 Outstanding Mentorship Award, UNM
2010 Midwives of Color Scholar
2010 NM Native American Indian Nurses Association Scholarship
2015 Remarkable Women of Color Who Rocked 2015/ Color lines
2015 MOC Outstanding Award, ACNM
2019 Aspen Fellow
2022 Native American Alumni Chapter of UNM Outstanding Alumni Award
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Using a variety of publication methods, including a blog, I work to educate others on the importance of Indigenous birth knowledge and traditions and empowering Native American birthing families.
Gonzales, N.L. (2015). American Indians of the Southwest. In Moss, M.P. (2015). American Indian
Health and Nursing. Springer Publishing Company.
Gonzales, N.L. (2016). The Many Colors of Changing Woman. (2016) SQUAT Birth Journal.
Gonzales, N.L. (2018). Contributing author, Indigenous Goddess Gang on-line Magazine.
Gonzales, N.L. (2018). Co-Author, Varney’s Midwifery 6th Edition. Chapter 1. Indigenous Midwifery.
Jones & Bartlett Learning.