Native Bruin: Past, Present & Future – Matthew de Lira

This October we are highlighting Native Bruin Matthew de Lira Class of 2007 and Class of 2011. Matt started college at Chapman University in Orange, California. There he took American Indian history, anthropology, film, and sociology classes under Professor Paul Apodaca (a Native Bruin, UCLA Ph.D.) Matt then transferred to UCLA and graduated with the … Read more

Native Bruin: Past, Present & Future – Jennifer R. Leal

Jennifer R. Leal

This September we are highlighting Native Bruin Jennifer R. Leal from the Washoe and Paiute tribal community, Class of 2005. Jennifer R. Leal is a descendant of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and Mono Lake Paiute tribal communities. She graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a bachelor of arts degree in American Indian … Read more

Native Bruin – Past, Present & Emerging – Christie Michelle Poitra

Christie Michelle Poitra

This August we are highlighting Native Bruin Christie Michelle Poitra, Class of 2010. Dr. Christie Michelle Poitra graduated from UCLA in 2010 with a Master of Arts degree in American Indian Studies. As a first-generation college graduate, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in Educational Policy from Michigan … Read more

Native Bruin – Past, Present & Emerging -Shayna Powless (Oneida Nation)

Shyna Powless

This July we are highlighting Native Bruin Shayna Powless from the Oneida Nation, Class of 2016. Shayna Powless is a professional cyclist for DNA Pro Cycling and a member of the USA Track National Team. She is also a USA Cycling Certified Coach and Dream Catcher Foundation co-founder, a non-profit dedicated to empowering Native youth … Read more

Native Bruin- Past, Present, & Emerging – Nina Stanton (Tule River Indian Reservation)

Nina Stanton

This May we are highlighting Native Bruin, Nina Stanton (Tule River Indian Reservation) class of 1997. Nina Stanton is Yokuts from the Wukchumni and Chukchansi tribelets of the Tule River Indian Reservation. She is a 1997 UCLA graduate who earned a BA in history, and a minor in American Indian Studies. Nina began her studies at … Read more

Native Bruin- Past, Present, & Emerging – Lorenzo Begay (Navajo/Mexican)

This APRIL 2023 we are highlighting Native Bruin Lorenzo Begay Navajo/Mexican class of 2010 Lorenzo Begay is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at California State University, Chico where he teaches nursing foundational concepts of pharmacology, clinical judgment, patient-centered care, and clinical practice. He graduated from UCLA in 2010 with a B.A. in Anthropology and a … Read more

Native Bruin- Past, Present, & Emerging – Maya Rose Dittloff

This January 2023 we are highlighting Native Bruin Maya Rose Dittloff (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Blackfeet) class of 2019. Maya Rose Dittloff (ǔkkayǔ”kwīyinnimǎakii/Many Pipes Woman) is a queer Mandan, Hidatsa, and Blackfeet writer, director, and producer. A graduate of the School of Theater, Film, and Television with a concentration in screenwriting and cinematography in 2019. Maya … Read more

AIS Graduation 2022

On Friday the entire AIS community—students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends and family—gathered to celebrate the Native and AIS students graduating in 2022. This was our first in-person graduation ceremony since 2019, and emotions ranged from elation to tears to trepidation to relief to gratefulness. Student Services Advisor Tim Topper emceed magnificently, students were blanketed, and … Read more

Native Bruin – Past Present and Emerging – James Riding In

Native Bruin - James Riding In.

Native bruin – Past Present and Emerging This May we are highlighting Native Bruin James Riding In (Pawnee), class of 1985 and 1991. James Riding In retired from Arizona State University in May 2021. He received an A.A. degree in general education from Haskell Indian Junior College (now Haskell Indian Nations University, (1974), a baccalaureate … Read more

Native Bruin- Past, Present, & Emerging – Megan Baker

Native Bruin - Megan Baker

???????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????: ????????????????, ???????????????????????????? & ???????????????????????????????? This April we are highlighting Native Bruin Megan Baker (Choctaw), who received her MA in AIS and will receive her PhD in Anthropology in 2023. Megan Baker is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma who received her MA in American Indian Studies in 2017. Based in Calera, … Read more