NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 2012/2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE Robin Minthorn | Statement My name is Dr. Robin Minthorn and I am an enrolled member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma and also a descendant of the Apache, Assiniboine, Nez Perce and Umatilla nations. I have been an advocate for Native higher education and education in general since I was an undergraduate at the University of Oklahoma. The desire to see other Native American/Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian children, tribes and communities obtain a quality education that incorporates and respects tribal values has been engrained in me as many of my aunts and uncles have been educators for over twenty years and my husband, Gabe Minthorn also is an educator and has worked at and received one of his degrees at Haskell Indian Nations University. I recently defended my dissertation entitled “Indigenizing Leadership Concepts through Perspectives of Native American College Students” at Oklahoma State University in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with an emphasis in Higher Education and Public Policy Program. Achieving the highest level of education I can attain has affirmed the responsibility that I have to help others reach their potential and learn how to navigate the educational system whether that is P-12 or higher education. I have worked in diverse higher education institutions such as: American InterContinential University in TX; Cameron University in Lawton, OK; Comanche Nation College in Lawton, OK, Oklahoma’s 1 st tribal college in Oklahoma as an academic advisor; Oklahoma State University as the Coordinator of Native American Affairs and currently is at the University of New Mexico as Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership and Native American Studies (NAS) and Director of the Native American Leadership (A joint master’s program within the educational leadership and NAS program). Since my experience at Comanche Nation College my passion to see the tribal college and university voice and experiences heard within mainstream higher education was engendered. During my time at OSU I taught for two years at Pawnee Nation College in the areas of economic development and leadership development in Indian country. I am passionate about promoting higher education to Native American students and communities during the time I served as an Ambassador for the Americans for Indian Opportunity organization, I along with other colleagues in Oklahoma, created the Oklahoma Native American Students in Higher Education (ONASHE) conference. ONASHE has been in existence for over five years and has grown to incorporate a student board, newsletter and bi-monthly student meetings creating a stronger community for Native college students and student affairs professionals statewide. During this time I have also been actively in leadership positions with the NASPA (National Association for Student Affairs Administrators) IPKC (Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community) where I currently serves as the National Chair whose mission is to promote Native students in higher education and awareness of the unique journey of Native college students and student affairs professionals. These unique experiences in higher education and leadership opportunities to serve and strengthen the communities I have been a part of make me a great candidate for the NIEA Board of Directors. I would like ask for the NIEA general membership to support me to be one of the new NIEA Board of Directors. I will promise to utilize my education, experience, skills and passion to advance Indian education and open doors for tribally based education and higher education to be a priority not only in Indian country but on a national level. It would be my priority to see a connection between P-12 and higher education inclusive of tribal colleges is connected to better serve our Native American/Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian children and communities they represent. I would be honored and humbled to help represent and advocate for NIEA and the membership and all of the diverse tribal communities and perspectives that are represented. Ah-ho. .