CHICAGO, Nov. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — National Native American Heritage Month gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to the rich history and traditions of Native Americans, but it also compels us to examine where this country’s first inhabitants are still absent. Academia is still dominated by white faculty (comprising 75% of all faculty – 40% men, 35% women), and even with the emphasis on diversifying college campuses, Native Americans still lag Blacks/African Americans and Latinx/Hispanic Americans on college campuses.
Wrap up Native American Heritage Month by looking at why their numbers lag on college campuses.
An Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Accreditation and Associate Professor of Marketing at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Dr. Stephanie Lawson Brooks earned her doctorate with the support of The PhD Project in 2011. With these life-changing letters, she’s now inspiring her family and community in new ways, slowly paving the way for a new generation of Native American scholars.
“People just don’t understand the sacrifices you have to make to pursue a doctoral degree,” explains Dr. Brooks. “The perception is you don’t need college. I believe there is something college gives you that is above and beyond a job. It gives you critical thinking skills and provides networking opportunities. It’s socializing. It’s a way of thinking that makes you a better person and gives you a way to see the world in a more open way…
