Ms. Hughes is an enrolled member of the Cahuilla Band of Indians. She began working for the Cahuilla Justice Department in February of 2022. Her professional career spans over 25 years in the regulation of tribal gaming. Ms. Hughes received her Associates Degree from Haskell Indian Junior College (Haskell Nations University), attended San Diego State University, after raising her family received her B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix, and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Tribal Gaming and Tribal Governance at Arizona State University. Ms. Hughes has served as Secretary of the Cahuilla Economic Development Corporation since 2012. In 2022 was appointed to serve as a Commissioner for the Cahuilla Band of Indians Hemp Commission. Ms. Hughes is dedicated to tribal community engagement and service and is a member of the Cahuilla Youth and Family and Cahuilla Scholarship Committee.