The Multicultural Center at the University of Nevada, Reno and the College of Education and Human Development will co-host a panel discussion on Wednesday, Nov. 17th focusing on Indigenous Education in the State of Nevada. The discussion will take place in the Mathewson IGT Knowledge Center, Wells Fargo Auditorium from 5:30 – 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The discussion will focus on highlighting the strengths of Indigenous communities and challenging the inequities that prevent Indigenous students from rising to their full potential. Panelists will provide recommendations for educators and related professionals in both K-12 and higher education contexts.

Discussion leaders bring a wealth of expertise that spans through multiple levels of education. Panelists include local K-12 principals and vice-principals, the Indian Education Specialist from Washoe County School District and the Director of Transfer and Recruitment at the University of Nevada, Reno. Moderating  the panel discussion will be the Nevada Department of Education Programs Professional for Indian Education, Fredina Drye-Romero.

Local experts intend to focus on how faculty in higher education can integrate authentic local Indigenous lenses in curriculum. Ideas will be presented for teaching in ways that are responsive to the Indigenous students’ knowledge creation and for creating spaces that are validating of the Indigenous experience. The College of Education & Human Development wants to prepare teachers and related  professionals who are ready to teach and serve Indigenous students in both formal and informal contexts.

This event will serve as a springboard for an ongoing, two-way collaboration between the college and members of local Indigenous communities. In an era when decisions relyheavily on numbers, this event aims to provide another pathway which challenges the invisibility of Indigenous students in schools and universities where enrollment is typically low.

Of course, numeric representation is not the only way in which Indigenous students remain “hidden.” Many times, they are also excluded from the so-called diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, when those initiatives attend to myopic focuses of race/ethnicity. The panelists will aim to challenge these trends and center Indigenous knowledge in the college and beyond. 

A reception will follow the panel discussion. Please RSVP by November 16th to attend. For more information, please contact Eleni Oikonomidoy, associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion in the College of Education and Human Development.