Matt Gilbert facts for kids
Matthew Sakiestewa Gilbert is a respected professor of history at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He is a member of the Hopi Tribe, an Indigenous group from Arizona. Professor Gilbert is an expert in Native American history and the history of the American West. He helps students learn about these important topics.
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Matthew Gilbert's Journey in Education
Matthew Gilbert grew up in a small village called Upper Moenkopi, Arizona in Arizona. He loved learning and went to several colleges. In 1999, he earned his first degree in history from The Master's College in California. He then continued his studies, getting a master's degree from Talbot School of Theology in 2001.
Advanced Studies and Research
Professor Gilbert then attended the University of California, Riverside. There, he earned another master's degree in 2004 and his Ph.D. in history in 2006. His main focus was on the history of American Indian education. He also studied the experiences of students at Indian boarding schools. Another area of his research is American Indians and sports.
Teaching Career and Achievements
Before becoming a full professor, he taught at several colleges. These included The Master's College and the University of Redlands. In August 2013, he became a full associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He teaches in both American Indian Studies and the History department.
Exploring Native American History Through Books
Professor Gilbert has written important books about Native American history. These books help us understand the past better.
Education Beyond the Mesas
His first book is called Education Beyond the Mesas. This book looks at the experiences of Hopi students at Sherman Institute. This was a special boarding school for Native American children in Riverside, California. In his book, Professor Gilbert shows how Hopi history and culture met with U.S. government rules. He explains that Native American students, including Navajos, Apaches, and Zunis, brought their own identities to school. He also shares how they reacted to their boarding school experiences.
Hopi Runners and Other Works
Professor Gilbert's second book is Hopi Runners: Crossing the Terrain Between Indian and American, 1908-1932. This book explores how Hopi marathon runners balanced their school loyalties and their tribal traditions. He also helped edit another book called The Indian School on Magnolia Avenue: Voices and Images from Sherman Institute. He is also a co-editor for a book series called Indigenous Confluences with the University of Washington Press.
Awards and Recognition
Professor Gilbert has received many awards for his excellent work.
- Conrad Humanities Scholar Award (2015-2020): This award recognized his important work in the humanities.
- Dean's Fellowship (2015-2017): This fellowship supported his research at the University of Illinois.
- Helen Corley Petit Scholar Award (2013–2014): This award is given to professors who show outstanding merit in their work.
- Spur Award (2013): He won this award for his article "Marathoner Louis Tewanima and the Continuity of Hopi Running, 1908-1912." This article was named the Best Western Short Nonfiction by the Western Writers of America.
