Joseph Kunkel is a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and a principal at MASS Design Group, where he leads the Sustainable Native Communities Design Lab. As a community designer and educator, his work focuses on advancing sustainable development practices across Indigenous communities, weaving together community engagement, material research, fabrication, and construction.

Kunkel’s career is dedicated to empowering Indigenous communities through design that supports cultural resilience and environmental stewardship. In recognition of this work, he was named an Obama Fellow in 2019, honoring his leadership in shaping more sustainable and equitable futures for Native communities.