Irene Sue Vernon facts for kids

Irene Sue Vernon is a professor of Ethnic Studies Department at Colorado State University. She specialises in the field of Native Americans and HIV/AIDS. She is one of the very few full professors in the United States with Native ancestry.

Early life and education

Vernon was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and grew up in Santa Barbara, California. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Native American studies from University of California, Berkeley, a Master of Arts in History from University of New Mexico, and a doctorate in Ethnic Studies from University of California, Berkeley.

Work and career

Vernon is currently a full time professor at Colorado State University where she is the Chair of Ethnic Studies Department and also the Assistant to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Along with her career as a professor, Vernon also has a career as an author as well as a researcher for Native Americans and HIV/AIDS. She is the author of Killing Us Quietly: Native Americans and HIV/AIDS (2001) and the co-author of Social Life and Issues (2005). She has participated in many research programs for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and was involved in the development of the FY2015 Trans-NIH Plan for HIV/AIDS research. Recently Vernon has been working on the health disparities of Native American and Hawaiian transgender populations.

Political involvement

Vernon has occasionally been sought for comment during high-profile news stories relating to race and ethnicity in the Northern Colorado area.

Awards and nominations

Awards

• 2016: Oliver P. Pennock Distinguished Service Award, Colorado State University
• 2016: National Association of Ethnic Studies Award
• 2015: Margaret B. Hazaleus Award, Colorado State University
• 2013: National Association for Ethnic Studies Charles C. Irby Distinguished Service Award
• 2011: 1st Generation Scholarship Awards Committee Recognition, Colorado State University
• 2008: Public Health Award, Colorado School of Public Health, Colorado State University
• 1994: UC Berkeley Graduate Fellowship
• 1993: Frances C. Allen Fellowship for the promotion of higher education and promotion of academic study for Native women
• 1991-1993: UC Berkeley Graduate Minority Award
• 1991: New Mexico Student Research Allocation Award
• 1989-1991: New Mexico State Fellowship
• 1983: UC Berkeley Academic Achievement Award
• 1981-1982: Laverne Alexander Platt Scholarship for excellent achievements

Nominations

• 2007: Distinguished Alumni Awards-Distinguished Faculty
• 2005: Margaret Hazelous Award
• 2004: Colorado State University Eddy Teacher Award