An Garagiola is a mother of three and descendant of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. She holds an Associate’s degree from Century College, bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Women's Studies from Hamline University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Her poetry, research, and activism are reflections of her lived experiences as a mixed-race Anishinaabekwe. Trained in creative writing and policy analysis, An’s work is interdisciplinary, rooted in Indigenous Feminisms and in the belief that healing happens in relationality with ourselves, others, and the land. Broadly, she uses Indigenous research methods/analyses and modes of communication via cultural literary production to interrogate how colonial policies and ideologies attempt to control through suppression and ethnic cleansing Indigenous histories, voices, and knowledges.

As a Research Assistant with the TRUTH Project, An works as a project manager and archival researcher. Her primary research task is to determine the role the founding Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota played in the ethnic cleansing and land dispossession of Indigenous peoples.

Prior to coming to UMN, An worked on policy projects related to campus resource reallocation, increasing the representation of Indigenous students in higher education, and making college a more equitable experience. She is passionate about designing plans which help systems become more equitable, sustainable, and accessible for people who institutions continue to marginalize.