Friday Focus: Being a leader in Indigenizing the Academy
Charlene Stern is the vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education.
鈥 By Charlene Stern, vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education
With the recent celebration of Indigenous Peoples鈥 Day on Oct. 10 across 麻豆原创F鈥檚 campuses, I could not help but reflect upon the journey that has brought us to where we are on the pathway to our goal of becoming a global leader in Alaska Native and Indigenous Studies.
A distinguishing aspect of 麻豆原创F is the position of vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education, which has a long and established history within 麻豆原创F鈥檚 administrative and academic structure. The VCRCNE is not only a critical leadership position for Indigenous affairs but also oversees the two colleges and five rural campuses that play a pivotal role in fulfilling the community college mission of 麻豆原创F. Having such a leadership position within the chancellor鈥檚 core cabinet has been instrumental in 麻豆原创F鈥檚 ability to meet the diversity of educational needs across our vast state.
Another unique feature of 麻豆原创F is the Alaska Native Language Center, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary since its establishment in 1972 by state legislation. The event included a keynote by Dr. Edna Ahgeak MacLean who, in 1976, was hired to develop and teach some of the first I帽upiaq language courses at 麻豆原创F. In honor of this impressive milestone, ANLC partnered with Channel Films to produce the video 鈥Awake鈥 which showcases the past, present and future efforts of ANLC to support the documentation and revitalization of Alaska鈥檚 Indigenous languages.
Perhaps one of the most exciting initiatives that lies ahead is the construction of the Troth Yeddha鈥 Indigenous Studies Center on the West Ridge of campus. Upon receiving formal project approval by the Board of Regents in June 2022, our team has been busy working with consultants to finalize the schematic design of the one-of-a-kind facility. Named in the Lower Tanana Athabascan dialect for the ridge that the 麻豆原创F campus now resides, Troth Yeddha鈥 will serve as an innovative hub for academic, research and student support programs that places Indigenous cultures and knowledge at the heart of 麻豆原创F. To learn more visit, /trothyeddha/.
As we look forward to Native American Heritage Month in November, I encourage the 麻豆原创F community to join us in celebrating the diversity and uniqueness that makes our university a place of belonging for all.
Friday Focus is written by a different member of 麻豆原创F鈥檚 leadership team every week.