Lydia Heyward

Lydia H. is a Special Investigator, State of California (Retired) and dedicated justice professional with extensive experience in abuse, neglect, and death investigations. Her career began as a probation and parole officer, where she was assigned a sex offender caseload—an assignment that few wanted. That experience profoundly shaped her understanding of the interconnectedness of abuse and victimization and highlighted critical gaps in prevention and treatment. Lydia spent close to four years as a Special Investigator with the State of California before returning to Alaska to work for the Attorney General’s office, focusing primarily on Medicaid fraud cases with a specialty in abuse, neglect, and death. Managing caseloads of over 100 clients, she spent most of her time in the field, often working long hours and even keeping a couch in her office to rest briefly before returning to work, demonstrating her deep commitment to justice and client-centered investigations.

Over the course of her career, Lydia expanded her focus to systemic issues affecting vulnerable populations, particularly Indigenous communities in Alaska. She served on the Governor’s Council on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and as a Board Member for the Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, both non-paid appointments that allowed her to work on policy development, program implementation, and education at the government level. Early in her career, she also contributed to Anchorage’s Women’s Commission. These leadership roles, combined with her frontline investigative experience, have given Lydia a unique perspective on the cycle of abuse, especially in remote villages where resources are limited and family networks are tightly interwoven. She emphasizes that lasting change requires direct engagement with both victims and perpetrators, as the nuances of abuse cannot be fully understood from textbooks alone.

Lydia holds a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor’s degree in Justice from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her professional mission is grounded in promoting justice, safety, and equitable access to services for vulnerable populations. Passionate about breaking cycles of abuse and strengthening community resilience, she continues to leverage her experience in investigations, policy, and advocacy to create systemic solutions that make a tangible difference for individuals, families, and communities across Alaska and beyond.

• University of Oklahoma - MLS, Indigenous People's Law
• University of Alaska Anchorage - BA, Justice

• Governor's Council on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (Alaska)
• Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (Alaska)
• Women's Commission (City of Anchorage)