Haskell Student Voice Added to New BIE Advisory Board
For J’Den Nichols, being a leader is more than doing things to help herself; it’s about advocating and helping her community. That is what led her to apply for the inaugural Bureau of Indian Education Advisory Board– helping her fellow students.
This October, the Bureau of Indian Education announced the BIE Student Advisory Board, bringing together six students representing different BIE-funded institutions who work to make sure student voices are included in conversations and decisions about Indian education.
Nichols is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, studying Media Communications at Haskell, and is active on campus through her work with the Student Government Association and Haskell Runway. Through those experiences, she has developed skills that allow her to contribute to conversations that directly affect BIE students, such as the importance of working collaboratively, listening to others, and advocating for change.
“Serving on the board gives Haskell a direct voice in conversations happening at the federal level,” Nichols shared, “Haskell has its own unique challenges, and I think it’s important that those experiences are represented when decisions about Indian education are being made.”
Nichols recently returned from the first advisory board meeting in Washington, D.C., where she had the chance to work collaboratively with the other board members, including input based on her own experiences as a Haskell student. Some of the objectives she contributed included improving communication between students and administration, increasing campus resources, and making sure students have a seat at the table for decisions regarding their education.
Haskell president Dr. Red Corn said, “This new student advisory board for BIE is an important step forward in student engagement, and I was very proud to see and hear Haskell student representation in DC when they recently met with BIE and BIA leadership. All the student perspectives shared at that gathering were powerful, and I look forward to seeing how this board evolves. It has tremendous potential.”
For other Haskell students, Nichols had some advice: get involved and don’t be afraid to speak up. Start by getting involved on campus, attending meetings, asking questions, and learning about the issues affecting your fellow students.
“Our voices matter right now, and we deserve a place in the conversations about our future,” Nichols said.
