Tristan Espinoza

Communications Intern

Email: tristan.espinoza@aspeninstitute.org

Tristan Espinoza (he/him) is a writer and proud Osage Native from outside Dallas, Texas. He is a recent graduate of at Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a former General Course student at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His work has appeared in Osage NewsThe Plentitudes Literary Journal, Solange Knowles’ BlackPlanet, the Columbia Daily Spectator and others. In fall 2025, Tristan plans to move to Washington, DC to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from American University.

Tristan is also the creative director of the Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative, a youth-led non-profit that uses public policy to combat stereotypes that plague Native American communities. In 2023, he received the Point of Light Award from the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Foundation in recognition of his work in Indigenous advocacy. In his spare time, Espinoza likes to watch Survivor reruns and post film photos of his loved ones on Instagram @thetristane.