Navajo educator appointed to White House higher education post

Photo courtesy of Navajo Nation Washington Office

Photo courtesy of Navajo Nation Washington Office

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dr. Anslem Davis was recently appointed as director for the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHITCU).

Davis, a Navajo from Crystal, N.M., said he is especially proud that he is the first Native American appointed to the position.

Navajo Nation Vice President Ben Shelly praised the appointment.

"We welcome the appointment of Dr. Davis. With his credentials and long history of accomplishments we are confident he will work to serve Indian education initiatives at the highest level," he said.

Davis said the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities' mission is to work with the federal government to be more supportive of tribal colleges and universities. For example, they are working with NASA and Goddard Propulsion Lab to give the college and universities grants so they will have more opportunities.

Davis, who previously served as a special assistant to the executive director for WHITCU, said they have been working with Navajo Technical College in Crownpoint, N.M., on the Internet in the Hogan program. They are placing broadband Internet towers in the nearby Navajo communities so that the students don't have to come to the college to get Internet service. They are talking with Diné College to also bring them the Internet in the Hogan program. Davis emphasized that this could become a model for other tribal colleges and universities.

"We (WHITCU) want to bring help from more federal agencies in the areas of science, math and technology," he said.

Davis noted WHITCU will host a workshop June 19 for five colleges with the focus on engineering.

"We're getting the tribal colleges and federal agencies together," he said.

WHITCU is housed within the U.S. Department of Education. Davis was appointed by White House Deputy Liaison Sarah Beth Lowe. WHITCU works with 34 tribal colleges and universities.

WHITCU was established in 2002 and there were three directors before Davis.

"I'm the first American Indian to hold the position. It's a good feeling to have because as an Indian person I came from the reservation and I worked in Indian country. I bring an Indian perspective," he said.

Davis previously served as superintendent of Pinon School District and as program director for the Rural Systemic Initiative for the National Science Foundation. In this position, he promoted systemic improvement in science and math for students in remote and impoverished areas. He also served as education specialist for educational systemic reform with the BIA's Center for School Improvement.

Davis has worked in the Senate and House as a Congressional Fellow. He has worked in Arizona and New Mexico as a teacher, supervisor, principal and superintendent. He has worked for the Navajo Nation as the associate director for North Central Association and principal investigator for the Navajo Nation Rural Systemic Initiative.

He received his BA from University of New Mexico, BS from Northern Arizona University and Ed.D. in educational administration from Pennsylvania State University.

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