Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet facts for kids

Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet (born May 14, 1954) is an American leader in education. She made history as the first Native American woman to become president of a university that wasn't a Tribal College or University. This happened when she led Antioch University Seattle from 2007 to 2013. Before that, she was the president of Diné College from 2000 to 2003.

Growing Up and Learning

Early Life in Wyoming

Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet was born on May 14, 1954, in Laramie, Wyoming. Her family is Navajo and comes from Tohatchi and Naschitti, New Mexico. She has three sisters and one brother. Her parents moved to Wyoming because of the Indian Relocation Act of 1956. This program encouraged Native American families to move to cities for jobs. Her parents worked for the Union Pacific Railroad.

Cassandra belongs to the Towering House clan of the Navajo people. She was born for the Salt clan. Her grandfathers were from the Mud and Weaver clans. She is also the great-great granddaughter of a famous Navajo leader, Chief Manuelito. Growing up in the 1960s, Cassandra lived in a community that was mostly white. She sometimes faced challenges because of her background.

Her College Journey

Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet studied hard to earn her degrees. In 1976, she got a bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Wyoming. Later, in 1988, she earned a master's degree in counselor education from the same university.

She continued her education and received a Ph.D. in educational policy and management in 2005. She earned this advanced degree from the University of Oregon. Her Ph.D. research focused on how American Indian women in tribal colleges could be supported and learn through mentoring.

Her Work in Education

Helping Students and Leaders

Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet is very interested in helping minority women in higher education. She also works to support American Indian education and to make sure everyone has fair chances. She is passionate about developing new leaders.

She worked in student services and counseling at several universities. These included the University of Oregon, the University of Wyoming, New Mexico State University, and the University of New Mexico.

Leading Native American Programs

From 1990 to 1995, she was the coordinator of the Indian Education Office at Oregon State University (OSU). She helped many Native American students earn their degrees there. In 1993, she shared that she sometimes felt lonely as the only Native American woman her age on campus. She worked for 16 years helping Native American students at Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. At Oregon State University, she started and led the Indian Education Office.

Becoming a University President

On August 1, 2000, Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet became the president of Diné College. This college serves the Navajo Nation. She worked to connect with leaders in Washington, D.C., to support tribal colleges. In 2003, she left Diné College.

In 2006, she was chosen to be president of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA). However, she decided not to take that job. In July 2007, she became the president of Antioch University Seattle. She served in this role until June 30, 2013. Her leadership at Antioch University Seattle was a big step. She was the first Native American woman to be president of a university that was not a tribal college.

Her Life Outside Work

Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet is married and has three sons. She loves spending time outdoors. Her favorite activities include backpacking, camping, fly fishing, and whitewater rafting. She also enjoys knitting and being part of book clubs. As of November 2020, she lives in Corvallis, Oregon.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she started a special program. She named it Nizhoni, which means "beautiful" in the Navajo language. It also means living a balanced life. Through this program, she sewed about 5,000 face masks to help her community.