College Native American Studies courses are engines for Native-led research in addition to serving as a welcoming academic home for Native students. As it is, Native students are already the most under-represented group on college campuses. Their numbers declined in the decade before the Covid pandemic. There are indications that the 2023 Supreme Court decision upending Affirmative Action and the Trump administration’s focus on unraveling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are doing further damage to all minority enrollment. As the American Indian Studies Association convention gets underway, we’ll assess the power and challenges of college programs focusing specifically on Native issues.
To join the discussion, call 1-800-996-2848
GUESTS
Dr. Souksavanh Keovorabouth (Diné), assistant professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Northern Arizona University and president of the American Indian Studies Association
Mario Atencio (Diné), Native American Studies Ph.D candidate at the University of New Mexico
Allison Shaddox (Cherokee), Native American Studies Ph.D. student at the University of New Mexico
Kelly Nalani Beym (Diné), Ph.D. candidate in geography at the University of Kansas
