Our Faculty & Staff

As a part of the School of Gender, Race, and Nations we will advance the dynamic interdisciplinary studies examining historically under-served populations and their contributions. The founding units of the School include: Black Studies; Chicano/Latino Studies; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and Indigenous Nations Studies.

SGRN will forge alliances across disciplines, displacing entrenched orthodoxies and discourses of power and privilege. It will achieve its vision through a teaching and research agenda that critically examines and challenges exclusionary disciplinary boundaries as well as conceptual and systemic borders. It comes as no surprise that that our programs and activities are highly regarded by both our current and former students.

Our Core Faculty:

Theodore Van Alst Jr. (enrolled member, Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians)
Tilikum Professor and Chair
Parkmill Building RM 205
Email: tva2@pdx.edu

Cornel Pewewardy (Comanche & Kiowa)
Founding Director & Professor Emeritus
Email: cornelp@pdx.edu

Grace Dillon (Anishinaabe)
Tenured Professor
Parkmill Building RM 225
Phone: (503) 725-8144                                            
Email: dillong@pdx.edu

Judy BlueHorse Skelton (Nez Perce & Cherokee)    
Associate Professor
Parkmill Building RM 239
Phone: (503) 725-9066
Email: judyblue@pdx.edu  

Kali Simmons (Oglala Lakota)
Assistant Professor
Parkmill Building RM 250
Phone: 503-725-6599
Email: kcs2@pdx.edu

Adjunct Faculty:

Rachel Black Elk (Lakota/Lumbee)
Adjunct Instructor
Indigenous Nations Studies  
Parkmill Building RM 249

Carma Corcoran (Chippewa-Cree)
Adjunct Instructor
Indigenous Nations Studies
Parkmill Building RM 249 

Gabe Sheoships (Walla Walla/Cayuse)
Adjunct Instructor
Indigenous Nations Studies
Parkmill Building RM 249