CORVALLIS – Chance White Eyes, an assistant professor of Native American studies at Southern Oregon University and an alumnus of Oregon State University, has been named the inaugural director of tribal relations at Oregon State. He starts Dec. 15.
“I am excited to return to Oregon State University,” White Eyes said. “This institution is in a privileged position to serve the tribes of Oregon and beyond. As such, I wish to advance initiatives that will promote economic, social, cultural and environmental health for the Indigenous communities of the region.”
At Southern Oregon, his research focused on Indigenous research methodologies, post-secondary Indigenous student success and the history of educational policy. He previously served as assistant to the tribal liaison at University of Oregon, where he worked to strengthen ties between the university and the nine tribes in Oregon.
White Eyes will be a member of the government relations team in the university president’s office. His job will be to build and maintain collaborative, mutual and trusting relationships with tribal nations in and outside of Oregon and consult with Oregon State leadership, colleges and programs to advance the university’s teaching, research and engagement missions.
White Eyes holds a doctorate in critical and socio-cultural studies in education from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Oregon State. He is an enrolled member of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin.
Just exactly how is White Eyes production to be measured in order to assess his contribution? Is there a need for securing better relations between OSU and the tribes of Oregon in an academic setting? I have to plead ignorance based on this appointment. I would certainly like to be educated on the necessity and benefit to the overall need of this position being filled by White Eyes.