Marisella Molina, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Arizona, with a focus on Law and Public Policy and a minor in Public Relations. 

Marisella began working with the Collaboratory as an undergraduate research assistant on the Tribal Research Governance Project and has since remained dedicated to work that advocates for the sovereignty and self-determination of Indigenous communities.