Syracuse University – School of Education
By: Education Exchange
1. Describe your current roles and their responsibilities.
As coordinator of the Student Development/Student Services program within our higher education faculty- similar to SOE’s higher education master’s degree program- I teach required courses and serve on doctoral and campus-wide committees. Also, for the past couple years, I have been an advisor to the Provost regarding Indigenous education.
2. How did Syracuse prepare you for these roles?
I participated in the Future Professoriate Program, a structured professional development experience for aspiring faculty. The initiative aims to develop mentoring relationships, offer programs and other activities tailored to the disciplinary environment, and support the professional needs of their students. I found that program and the college teaching course to be invaluable experience.
3. What current trends do you see in your speciality and how are you addressing them?
There are so many more Indigenous scholars now from when I was a student! The opportunity for collaboration has been awesome. Indigenous knowledge systems are expected to be incorporated into research and literature regarding Indigenous students.
4. Which professors stood out for you most as an SOE student?
Professors Joan Burstyn and R. Debrah Davis supported me 110%. Both are retired now. We had meals together, talked about scholarship, practiced presentations, and we read our writing out loud to each other. They helped me develop as a writer.
5. What are your thoughts on the transformative potential of the Indigenous Teacher Preparation Fund?
A scholarship fund can be transformational with the right support and knowledge in place- such as the Native Student Program. This is a place for Indigenous students to be Indigenous, to be surrounded by our own people who get our humor. The cultural programs and speakers are very important too. It reminds Indigenous students of home.
