Dakota Waterson joined the ACLU of New Mexico as the Reproductive Rights Community Engagement Specialist in 2020. She focuses primarily on protecting and expanding access to reproductive rights for New Mexicans. Dakota also travels around New Mexico teaching students their protected rights while focusing on LGBTQIA+ rights. Dakota believes that all New Mexicans should have equal and accessible access to reproductive healthcare, and deciding when and if someone would like to become a parent should be left to individuals, their families, and their providers, not politicians.
Dakota earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico in Political Science and a minor in Anthropology in 2019. In 2019 Dakota worked as a legislative intern at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. While working at Planned Parenthood, she discovered her passion for protecting New Mexican's access to reproductive rights. During her time at UNM, Dakota was a part of the Honor Society for Leadership and Success, UNM Generation Action, and volunteered at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center.
Dakota grew up in Taos, New Mexico, and has lived in Albuquerque since 2016. When she is not working, Dakota enjoys hiking with her family and dogs and exploring national parks.
