May 31, 2021
Anna Hohag graduated from the AIS program in 2011 and is currently working as a Tribal Attorney. "AIS courses exposed me to the most relevant and empowering education, curriculum, history, and indigenous voices— something I had not received in my public education up to that point."
Anna says her favorite part of the AIS program was sharing Raven’s Feast with her family, the UW and Seattle Community, and professors. If she could give advice to those that are considering to major/minor in AIS,... Read more
May 31, 2021
Justin Dissmo graduated from the AIS program in 2012. When asked why he decided to study AIS, he said, "I’m a Puyallup tribal member, and have a desire to grow my knowledge in the history of indigenous America. One of the most memorable parts of being in AIS was working on my senior thesis with the guidance of the late Marvin Oliver. To anyone considering a major or minor in AIS, follow your heart, and be thankful for every moment."
Justin is currently a pasta chef and ceramic artist.
May 24, 2021
Stephanie Riedl decided to graduate with a degree in AIS in 2015 because "I wanted answers to my experience and my families experiences as Indigenous people. I wanted to learn how to be more supportive of my family, my urban Indigenous community, and my Sts’ailes and Coast Salish kin healing from colonialism."
"In the last year in the AIS program I was given a pseudo “research” assignment, to interview a woman in my family," they say, when asked about the most memorable part of the AIS program... Read more
May 24, 2021
Mariah Ravelli graduated from the AIS program in 2011. She was inspired to pursue a degree in AIS because of her strong ties to her Native family in New Mexico. "Growing up I heard my grandmother's stories of what life was like for her, as well as a subtle undercurrent of demoralization that permeated within my elders. I not only wanted to get a general education, but get an education in a field that directly tied to my culture and showed pride for my family."
Mariah goes into depth about her... Read more
May 10, 2021
Madrienne White graduated from American Indian Studies in 2008. Of her time in the program, she says, "I was influenced to major is AIS by being told to take advantage of any opportunity to study tribal history, stories, law, and much more. AIS provided me with an opportunity to study contemporary issues, literature, and politics".
One of the most memorable parts of the AIS program was "The people I met, and all the friendships and bonds I created. Those genuine people enriched my experience,... Read more
December 9, 2020
Kyra McFarland is an Oceania and Pacific Islander Studies minor in the Department of American Indian Studies and was recently interviewed for the UW’s Transfer Newsletter about her experience as a transfer student.
Kyra was born in Seattle and grew up in the Skyway/Rainier Beach area.
She is a transfer student from Green River College who is currently double majoring in Archaeological Sciences and Indigenous Archaeology while minoring... Read more
November 4, 2020
Maya Esquivido (BA in American Indian Studies, 2019) co-authored this wonderful article, published in the latest edition of News from Native California. Maya (Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation) is now a graduate student in the UW School of Social Work and collaborated with her sister, Dr. Vanessa Esquivido, and Morning Star Gali (Ahjumawi Band of Pit River) on this excellent piece on Black Lives Matter on Indigenous lands in California... Read more
June 4, 2020
Calvin Smith graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in American Indian Studies. With finishing an undergraduate degree, Calvin's first day was spent with leading their first group of client's up Takhoma as his dream career as a Moutin Guide for Rainer Mountainerring Inc. (RMI). Over the course of 10 trips and 7 successful summits, Calvin connected with folks from around the country on his homelands of the Yakima Nation. He is quite grateful to have had the opportunity to work outside and to educate... Read more
May 27, 2020
Amanda Hayes graduated in 2018 with a B.A. in American Indian Studies, with a focus in nutrition.
Amanda is currently working at a level one trauma center in the emergency department a Harborview Medical Center. Amanda is also doing an internship at Seattle Children's Medial Center for research under Dr. Dean and is working with a trauma surgeon in surgery. She also is doing a Postbaccalaureate Certificate (postbac) to apply for medical school.
October 9, 2018
Congratulations to Scott Pinkham! AIS Faculty member, Scott Pinkham (Nez Perce), '87, received a Distinguished Alumni Awards for 2018. Scott is the counseling services coordinator who leads the Minority Scholars Engineering Program in the College of Engineering. In his various roles and efforts at the university, he recruits, advises, and mentors students all across campus. He lectures in American Indian Studies and is adviser to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society student... Read more
