Information and Resources for students that support the advancement of Duke students that identify as Native American/Indigenous.

The following resources are curated specifically to assist students who identify as Native American/Indigenous, and all students who support the advancement of students who identify as Native American/Indigenous, explore their interests, find opportunities that best suit their needs and desires, and attain the goals they set for themselves.

We hope to continue to add resources that might be helpful and if you find something valuable, please share it with us by using the Guest login (top right of Duke Hub).

Considerations for Application and Hiring Process

Connect to Native/Indigenous alumni and professionals

Alumni and professionals who hold Native/Indigenous identities can provide insight into their experience and what advice they have for going through the job search process and even be a mentor for you. Informational interviews are the best ways to network with alumni and professionals whose identity and career background you wish to learn more about.

Highlight your background

As a Native/Indigenous-identifying student, you bring value to industry. Your background, particularly the experiences, skills, and perspective you bring are a tremendous benefit to the workforce. There are multiple ways in which you can show how your identity and point of view are valuable to an employer.

How you might choose to discuss your identity:

Resume through your academic and professional experiences

Cover letter by explaining how your identity or multicultural involvement can be an asset to the role or industry that you are interested in

During the interview process you can make connections to your identity through relevant examples to the role you are applying for. The interview process can also be used as an opportunity to understand the employer’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to explain your desire to work for a company that values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Consider the employer’s values and commitment toward diversity, equity, and inclusion

To find out about a company’s commitment to DEI, you can conduct informational interviews with individuals at the company or ask them about their commitment during a job interview. The Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index also offers insights on corporate inclusivity, specifically for policies, practices and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees.

LEONA ANDERSON | BLAZING FLAME AWARDEE | CHEROKEE NATION

This article features Leona Anderson, the 2021 AISES Blazing Flame Awardee, and celebrates her work bringing STEM to Native students.

By Lauren Coury
Lauren Coury Career Advisor, Data, Technology, and Engineering
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Native American Identity and Representation: A Cultural Perspective

This article is a good overview of how Native American representation matters and why keeping up with trends and growth in this area might help you with staying more connected to Native American cultural identity and share this information with others including employers.

By Lauren Coury
Lauren Coury Career Advisor, Data, Technology, and Engineering
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DEB TEWA | INDIGENOUS EXCELLENCE AWARDEE | HOPI

This article features Deb Tewa, 2021 winner of the Indigenous Excellence Award, and celebrates some of her work in solar energy.

By Lauren Coury
Lauren Coury Career Advisor, Data, Technology, and Engineering
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Diverse Engineering Professional Organizations

Dr. Whitney Gaskins from the University of Cincinnati shares her views on the importance of diversity in the field of engineering: “It is so important to have diverse students in engineering because we are problem solvers. Engineers work in the …

By Stacia Solomon (she/her)
Stacia Solomon (she/her) Director, Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture
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Native American Heritage Month: Indigenous Tech Leaders Strive To Uplift Tribes

This article centers on Indigenous tech leaders and what impact their backgrounds have had on their careers and efforts to support more Native Americans and underrepresented people entering into technology.

By Lauren Coury
Lauren Coury Career Advisor, Data, Technology, and Engineering
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