In this talk, Dr. Heather Shotton (Wichita/Kiowa/Cheyenne) will explore what it means for institutions of higher education to become Indigenous serving. She will discuss the history of higher education with Indigenous communities and reframe approaches to better serve Indigenous students. Pulling from experience at Fort Lewis College, she will challenge us to consider ways to confront difficult histories and reclaim academic spaces as sites of Indigenous learning and practice.

Dr. Heather J. Shotton is the 11th President of Fort Lewis College and the first Native American to lead the institution. A nationally recognized scholar and advocate for Indigenous education, Dr. Shotton brings over 20 years of experience in academic leadership, student success, and institutional transformation.

An enrolled citizen of the Wichita & Affiliated Tribes and descendant of the Kiowa and Cheyenne Tribes, she has dedicated her career to advancing equity, reconciliation, and access in higher education. Her leadership at FLC centers on belonging, academic excellence, and honoring the institution’s unique history.

A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Shotton previously served as Chair of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma and as Board President of the National Indian Education Association.