“I was the first American Indian to be enrolled at Creighton University.  And I began to realize that it was going to be very much living in a fishbowl, with everybody observing me and what I was doing as an American Indian.” The AISES family is deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. George Blue Spruce Jr. As the first American Indian to graduate from a U.S. dental school, he

AISES Members, Your voice matters in shaping the future of our organization! The AISES Board of Directors election is now underway, and we need your participation to select the leaders who will guide us through 2026 and beyond. The Board of Directors plays a crucial role in steering AISES towards its vision and mission, ensuring both legal integrity and financial support for our initiatives. This year’s candidates bring diverse experiences

AISES is pleased to announce the newest members of the organization’s Board of Directors. We are excited to welcome Mike Laverdure (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), Fawn Sanchez (Shoshone-Bannock), and Lillian Sparks Robinson (Rosebud Sioux) as incoming members of the 2025–2028 board. Mike Laverdure joins the AISES Board of Directors with a wealth of experience in architecture and a deep commitment to promoting STEM careers among Indigenous youth. A registered

The AISES Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dr. Jani Ingram is the winner of the 2024 Ely S. Parker Award, the organization’s highest honor. Dr. Ingram is a  Regents’ Professor at Northern Arizona University (NAU), where she serves as the Dr. Don Gilbert Endowed Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Ingram says,   “I am very honored to receive the Ely S. Parker Award this

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., (August 22, 2024) – Today, AISES – Advancing Indigenous People in STEM announced that it has enlisted FanDuel, North America’s premier online gaming company, as a new partner who will promote Indian country workforce development in the STEM fields and its importance for the gaming industry’s future. AISES is a premiere organization facilitating access and success for Indian country in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines. Its

The winners of the prestigious AISES Professional Awards will be celebrated at the 2024 AISES National Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Six outstanding individuals will be recognized during the Closing Banquet on Saturday, October 5. Professional Award winners are selected in the following categories: Professional of the Year Most Promising Engineer or Scientist Blazing Flame Executive Excellence Indigenous Excellence Technical Excellence   The 2024 award recipients are Paula Starr, Professional

The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Indigenous Media Awards. Published by AISES, Winds of Change magazine, along with its writers, took a Second Place award in Health Coverage in Professional Divisions I & II, and a Third-Place award for Best Feature Story in Professional Division II. For the fourth consecutive year, Winds of Change has received recognition in the Print/Online Best Feature Story category. The Third

AISES is saddened to announce the passing of nationally recognized artist and activist Samuel Francis English Sr., who journeyed to the other side camp on November 10, age 81, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. English was a dedicated friend and integral member of the AISES family who donated his art, which was widely admired on National Conference posters and Winds of Change magazine covers. His extraordinary works Year of the American Indian and Restoring the Earth were the 14th and 15th annual National Conference posters.

Albuquerque, N.M., September 22, 2023 — AISES is celebrating Marlene Watson as the winner of the 2023 Ely S. Parker Award, the highest professional honor AISES confers. Recipients of the award notably follow the example of Ely S. Parker, a 19th-century Seneca Nation chief who broke multiple racial barriers while establishing an enduring legacy that continues to inspire today’s Indigenous leaders. Watson says, “I am very touched by receiving this