It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Dr. Tiffany Smith, Director of Research and Career Support for AISES. Since joining AISES in 2021, Tiffany brought unwavering warmth, optimism, and courage as she faced a prolonged fight with metastatic breast cancer. Her dedication to higher education and commitment to uplifting Native students through research were not just elements of her career — they were her calling.
Tiffany devoted her life to creating culturally grounded support systems and meaningful spaces for Indigenous students and professionals. Her work, her leadership, and her compassion left a lasting impact on our AISES family and community. We honor her legacy with gratitude, carrying forward the spirit of her email signature in the Cherokee and Mvskoke languages ᎠᏥᎸᏉᏗᏳ/Atsilvquodiyu (Respectfully).
Born to the Cherokee and Mvskoke Nations, Tiffany was a brilliant and articulate leader with a remarkable ability to communicate her ideas to audiences of all kinds. “Tiffany was deeply dedicated to Indigenous scholarship and to uplifting Indigenous women in STEM. Her generosity and compassion touched everyone she worked with,” said AISES President Sarah EchoHawk. “During her time at AISES Tiffany was instrumental in developing the Rematriation Program, the AUNTIE Tech Collective, and other initiatives that strengthened our support of Indigenous students and professionals. Tiffany’s vision and legacy will live on in the countless students, professionals and leaders she inspired. We will miss her terribly.”
Before joining AISES, Tiffany spent 16 years working across multiple areas of student affairs, including first-year experience and orientation, career development, student engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. She earned a BA in public relations and sociology, followed by an MEd and PhD in higher education and student affairs administration, all from the University of Oklahoma. Her academic journey included experience as an adjunct faculty member, and her professional dedication reflected her lifelong commitment to supporting students and strengthening educational communities, both tribal and mainstream.
Her dissertation, “Indigenizing the Academy, A Storytelling Journey to Native Student Success in Engineering” was awarded the 2021 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Melvene D. Hardee Dissertation of the Year Award. Tiffany also served as NASPA’s chair of the Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community and served on their Conference Leadership Committee.
She presented nationally on Indigenous higher education topics for WEPAN (Women in Engineering ProActive Network), NIEA (National Indian Education Association), NASAI (Native American Student Advocacy Institute), and ASHE (Association for the Study of Higher Education).
One powerful example of Tiffany’s leadership came in 2024 when she was selected as a Pillar of the Profession by the NASPA Foundation, a national organization serving student affairs professionals. In that role, Tiffany and 17 Pillar honorees collectively raised more than $97,000 in scholarships to support members experiencing financial need. Her recognition and her contributions that year reflected both her professional excellence and her unwavering effort to lift others.
She led or influenced several significant AISES initiatives, including the Leveraging the AISES Archival Database project sponsored by the Spencer Foundation — an arts-based effort in which participants create posters of their Indigenous STEM journeys. She was an active member of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Special Interest Group (IPA SIG) within AERA (the American Educational Research Association). In 2025 she co-presented a roundtable paper presentation titled “Finding Balance: Native STEM Students Navigating ‘Monsters’ of Mental Health.” At the conclusion of the 2025 AERA conference, Tiffany transitioned from Programs Chair to Chair of the IPA SIG, continuing her dedication to advancing Indigenous research and supporting Native scholars.
Tiffany was deeply involved in the Empowering Indigenous Women in STEM: The Luce Rematriation Program, which to date has supported 117 women and hosted more than five workshops. This innovative mentorship initiative centers the holistic development and advancement of Indigenous professional women in STEM.
She co-developed the session Uprooting Colonial Narratives of STEM: Nurturing Indigenous Futures Through AISES Impact at the 2025 AISES National Conference. Using TribalCrit and Indigenous mix-method approaches, Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers examined the influence AISES has had on the past, present, and future of Indigenous STEM students and professionals.
Tiffany was also involved in the AUNTIE Tech Collective, an initiative dedicated to addressing the systemic underrepresentation of Indigenous women and girls in technology. In 2025, the AUNTIE Tech Collective was recognized as a semi-finalist in MIT Solve, reflecting the innovative and impactful work Tiffany helped advance.
Teaming with Dr. Robin Zap-tah-hol-ah Minthorn and Dr. Theresa J. Ambo, Dr. Smith served as an editor of Ancestors-in-Training as Indigenous Leaders in Higher Education: Honoring our Legacy. This 238-page volume, to be published in 2026, represents a collaboration with more than 40 scholars. The result presents new perspectives from Indigenous leaders across academic affairs, student affairs, and central administration and offers pathways for colleges and universities to better serve Indigenous students and professionals. Tiffany wrote chapter 17: “Giving Back as a Form of Student Leadership for Native Undergraduate STEM Students,” drawing insights from years of supporting Native students, uplifting community-centered leadership, and championing the role of reciprocity in Indigenous STEM pathways.
Experiencing the beauty and special gifts of Dr. Tiffany Smith was a true joy. We are profoundly grateful to have learned from her as a colleague, mentor, and friend. We extend our deepest condolences to all who love her, especially her husband, Zach, son, Tytan, daughter, Mya, brother, Ryan, and parents, Charles and Diane Nelson. Her light, her leadership, and her love for Indigenous sisters, relatives, and communities will continue to guide us, reminding us of the strength she carried and the path she helped illuminate. We love you, Tiffany!
A private Celebration of Life service is scheduled for Saturday, December 20. Resthaven Funeral Home in Oklahoma City will live-stream the service for those who cannot attend. Click here for details