Marigold Linton facts for kids
Marigold Linton (born 1936) is a smart scientist who studies how people remember things. She is a member of the Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians. In 1964, she made history by becoming the first Native American to earn a special degree called a doctorate in psychology. She also helped start the National Indian Education Association. Her work on long-term memory is very important in psychology. Today, she helps more minority students get into science and math at the University of Texas. She has also led a group called the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.
Early life
Marigold Linton grew up on the Morongo Reservation in Southern California. She faced many challenges because her family was poor. But she worked hard and in 1954, she became the first Native American from a California reservation to go to college.
She went to the new University of California, Riverside. She earned top grades and got her first degree in Psychology. By the time she started graduate school, she had already published two research papers! She later earned her Ph.D. from UCLA in 1964. This made her the first Native American to get a doctorate in psychology.
Career
Marigold Linton has done a lot to help Native American students and teachers. She worked with the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University. She helped them get over $18 million in grants. This money supported programs like Bridges to the Baccalaureate and Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement. These programs help students from diverse backgrounds succeed in science.
She also helped create SACNAS. This stands for the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science. SACNAS helps Chicano/Latino, Native American, and other minority students get good opportunities in science. The group includes students, teachers, and scientists. Marigold Linton was the President of the SACNAS Board of Directors from 2004 to 2007.
Marigold Linton also helped start the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) in 1969. The NIEA is a group that works to make sure Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian people have a say in education. This includes teachers, tribal leaders, parents, and students. Today, the NIEA has more than 10,000 members.
Important Roles
Marigold Linton has held many important national positions. She was part of committees that advised groups like the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These roles allowed her to help shape how science and education programs support minority students and researchers across the country.
