1 CHRISTINE A. NELSON, PHD. 6401 Avenida La Costa NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 cnelson3@email.arizona.edu 505-321-3162 RESEARCH SPECIALIZATIONS Indigenous Perspectives in Research Finance in Higher Education College Access & Success Diversity in Higher Education EDUCATION Ph.D., Center for the Study of Higher Education, University of Arizona, 2015 Dissertation: American Indian College Students as Native Nation Builders: Tribal Financial Aid as a Lens for Understanding the Paradox of College-Going Process Through the lived experiences of 37 American Indian college students, this qualitative study acknowledges the normative and individual benefit framing of college, but scrutinizes it to understand how this norm engages (or does not engage) American Indian students in the college-going process. The dissertation findings further demonstrate how critical it is to include a collective paradigm when developing policy and practice so the research approach overlays the very individualistic views of and policies regarding college-going and financial aid with the more collective framework from which American Indian students and Native Nations may be operating. Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Regina Deil-Amen M.A. Center for the Study of Higher Education, University of Arizona, 2010 B.S. Business Marketing, University of Phoenix, 2004 HONORS/AWARDS University of New Mexico Division Equity and Inclusion & Center for Education Policy Research, Postdoctoral Fellow, 2015-2016 Marshall Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, Award: $10,500 (2015) ASHE Council on Ethnic Participation Mentor-Protégé Participant (2012 & 2014) American Council on Education (ACE) Summer Research Associate (2014) ASHE Graduate Student Policy Seminar Attendee (2013) Jack Kent Cooke Dissertation Fellow, Award: $25,000 (2013) American Indian College Fund Graduate Fellow, Total Award: $10,000 (2010 & 2012) Assoc. for American Indian Affairs Graduate Fellow, Total Award: $6,000 (2010 & 2012) Office of Navajo Nation Graduate Fellow, Award Total: $39,000 (2008-2013) American Indian Graduate Center Graduate Fellow, Total Award: $24,000 (2008-2013) College of Education Graduate Scholar, Total Award: $6,000 (2008-2013) University of Arizona Board of Regents Research Grant, Total Award: $5,000 (2012) 2011 Pathways to Postsecondary Education Award, Honorable Mention for Native American Science & Engineering Program (2011) American Indian Graduate Center Rainer Fellow (2011) Native American Student Affairs Outstanding Graduate Service Award (2010)
2 Building Native Nations Scholar, Udall Center in Public Policy (2009) Erasmus Scholar, College of Education, University of Arizona (2009) Roberti Helen Scholar, University of Arizona (2009) Honors Graduate, University of Phoenix (2004) Office of Navajo Nation Chief Manuelito Scholar, Total Award: $15,000 (1997-2000) PUBLICATIONS Refereed Journal Articles Nelson, C. and Youngbull, N. (anticipated 2016). Indigenous Knowledge Realized: Understanding the role of service-learning at the intersection of being a mentor and Native American College- Going. International Review of Qualitative Research. Manuscripts in Submission De Leon, J., Arambula-Ballysingh, T., Nelson, C. A., (anticipated 2016). HSIs as Incubators of Innovation in Incorporating Diversity. In Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Leadership. American Council on Education, Nelson, C.A., Frye, J. (anticipated 2016). Tribal Colleges & Universities: A funding pattern like no other MSI. American Council on Education MSI Funding Brief. Technical Reports, Policy, and Essays Nelson, C. (2015). Mapping New Pathways for Native Youth. Higher Education Today. May 26, 2015. Nelson, C. (2015). American Indian/Alaskan Natives in Higher Education Fact Sheet. Center for Policy Research and Strategy Post-Traditional Student Profiles. Washington, D.C.: American Council on Education. Waterman, S. and Nelson, C. (2011). Igniting Leadership through Collaborative Efforts of NANIPKC, Going Beyond the Asterisk*. In NASPA Excellence in Practice, A Knowledge Communities Publication. Washington, D.C.: NASPA. RESEARCH PROJECTS On-going Projects American Indian Higher Education Financing Through Tribal Financial Aid, University of New Mexico, 2015 Native Women Doctoral Process Project, University of Arizona & Brown University, 2015 Tribal College & Universities Funding Brief, American Council on Education (ACE), 2015 College Horizons Assessment Project, University of Arizona & College Horizons, 2014 Native American College Student Interpretations of Place and Community, University of New Mexico, 2013 Previous Projects Credit for Prior Learning Project, American Council on Education (ACE), Summer 2014 Impacts of Course Redesign, American Council on Education (ACE), Summer 2014 New Start Summer Program Project, University of Arizona, 2009-2010
3 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Postdoctoral Fellow August 2015-current University of New Mexico, Division for Equity & Inclusion & Center for Education Policy Research Research Associate Summer 2014 American Council on Education, Policy Research and Strategy TEACHING EXPERIENCE Adjunct Instructor, College Success Seminar 2012 2015 Central New Mexico Community College, School of Adult and General Education Online Adjunct Instructor, Non-profit Marketing Spring 2015 Northwest Indian College, Tribal Governance & Business Management Teaching Assistant/Instructor, Service Learning 2008-2010 University of Arizona, College of Education Adjunct Instructor, College Success Seminar Fall 2007 University of New Mexico, University College OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Graduate Assistant 2009 2012 University of Arizona, Early Academic Outreach Senior Student Program Advisor 2006 2008 University of New Mexico, American Indian Student Services Recruitment Counselor 2004 2006 Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS Refereed Conference Presentations Keene, A., Nelson, C. A., & Tachine, A. (Upcoming 2015). Being (In)VISIBLE: Native women navigating the doctoral process. Paper presented at the national conference of the Association for the Study of the Higher Education. Nelson, C. A. (2015). American Indian College Students and Financial Aid: The paradox of collegegoing and purpose of higher education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Nelson, C. A. (2013). American Indian College Students as Native Nation Builders: Tribal Financial Aid as a Lens for Understanding College-Going at the Intersection of Universities and Tribal Nations. Paper presented at the national conference of the Association for the Study of Higher Education. Youngbull, N., Nelson, C. A., & Lee, J. (2010). Indigenous Knowledge Realized: American Indian Experience in a Service-Learning Program. Paper presented at the national conference of Association for the Study of Higher Education.
4 Symposium Nelson, C. A., Tachine, A., Youngbull, N., R., Francis-Begay, K., Deil-Amen, R. A., Rhoades, G., & Lee, J. (Upcoming 2015). Micro-decisions and Macro-purposes: Identifying the monsters and weapons in achieving tribal sovereignty and transformation in the Academy. Symposium will be held during the general conference of the Association for the Study of the Higher Education. Invited Sessions Nelson, C. A. (upcoming 2016). First Nation/Indigenous Access and Equity Issues in Postsecondary Education Panel Member. American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Annual Convention Montreal, Canada. Nelson, C. A. (2015). Indigenous Paradox of American Indian College-Going. College Horizons Bowdoin College. LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE Leadership NASPA Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community Research & Scholarship Representative (2011-2014) Service to the Discipline Roundtable Session Chair American Educational Research Association, upcoming April 2016 Planning Committee Member Indigenous Educational Research Conference, 2015 Committee member ASHE Council on Ethnic Participation Mentor-Protégé program, 2015 Manuscript reviewer Journal of American Indian Education (JAIE) Proposal reviewer Association for the Study of Higher Education, 2012-present Proposal reviewer National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), 2011 to present Manuscript reviewer Journal of Contemporary Research in Higher Education, 2010-2012 Professional Memberships Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), 2010-present National Indian Education Association (NIEA) Voting Member, 2010-present American Educational Research Association (AERA), 2011-present Arizona Tri-University for Indian Education (ATUIE), 2009-2012 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), 2006-2014 Other University and Community Involvement Faculty for the College Horizons College Preparation Program, 2015 Presentation at Laguna Youth Employment Program, 2015 Reviewer of student applications for College Horizons College Preparation Program, 2015 Reviewer of scholarship applications for Association for American Indian Affairs, 2011-present Team Representative for Community-Based Indoor Soccer Team, 2011-2014 Native SOAR Professional Mentor, 2012-2013 Native College Night Planning Committee Member, 2011-2012 Arizona Assurance Mentor, 2010-2012 Co-coordinator for University of Arizona American Indian Graduate and Professional Student Welcome, 2010
5 MESA Day Volunteer, 2010 Project SOAR/Native SOAR Website and Marketing Development, 2009 American Indian Language Development Institute Fundraising, 2009 Native American Student Affairs First Year Scholars Marketing Development, 2009 Indigenous Soccer Cup Planning Committee-College Preparation, 2007 Miss Indian UNM Holiday Toy Drive, 2009 The Care Package Project: MarineParents.com, 2009 Intel International Science Fair Volunteer, 2009 American Indian Science & Engineering Society National Science Fair, 2006-2007 American Indian Day at NM State Legislature Planning Committee Member, 2006 & 2007 PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS Minthorn, R., Marsh, T., & Nelson, C. (2014). Native American College Student Interpretations of Space, Place and Community at a Southwestern Higher Education Institution. Native American Student Advocacy Institute, Albuquerque, NM. Nelson, C. (2012). ipad and itunes 4 U: Routing a path to college through technology. National Indian Education Annual Convention, Oklahoma City, OK. Minthorn, R., Tachine, A., & Nelson, C. (2012). Student Affairs Professionals Advocating By Giving Voice to Indigenous College Students. National Indian Education Annual Convention, Oklahoma City, OK. Waterman, S. and Nelson, C. (2012). Researching with Indigenous Students and Communities. NASPA Pre-Conference: Intersection of Tribal Sovereignty and Higher Education, Boston, MA. Nelson, C. and Cheromiah, A. (2012). itunes.004 U: Media to accomplish college Tucson School District Native College Night, Tucson, AZ. Nelson, C. and Cheromiah, A. (2012). The FAFSA experience: Guiding parents so they can guide their students Tucson School District Native College Night, Tucson, AZ. Nelson, C. (2011). itunes for U: Using digital media to accomplish the quest to college Arizona American Indian Youth Conference, Phoenix, AZ Nelson, C. and Cheromiah, A. (2011). Start Now! Prepare for college design your future. 23 rd Gila River Youth Conference, Chandler, AZ. Nelson, C. and Cheromiah, A. (2011). Native American Science & Engineering Program: Incorporating the American Indian Well Being Model with a Science Based Program. Indigenous Well-Being Conference, Albuquerque, NM. Nelson, C. (2010). Start Now! College is not a dream, it s a plan. American Indian Youth Conference, Tucson, AZ. Nelson, C. and Cheromiah, A. (2010). Using the American Indian Well-Being Model to Encourage High School Students to Pursue Higher Education in the STEM Fields. Southwest Institute for the Education of Native Americans, Tucson, AZ. Nelson, C. and Cheromiah, A. (2010). Using the American Indian Well-Being Model to support Native American High School Students entering STEM fields. NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
6 Nelson, C. (2010). Indigenous Alliance: Connecting Native American/Alaskan Native students with resources to access post-secondary education in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields. Native American Student Advocacy Institute, Albuquerque, NM. Nelson, C. (2009). How to be a Wildcat at All Ages: Three UA Programs To Get You Involved. Arizona American Indian Youth Conference, Tucson, AZ Nelson, C. (2009). University of Arizona and Native SOAR Mentorship Program Building Relations with Tribal Communities. Native American Student Advocacy Institute, Tucson, AZ. James-Pino, T., Nelson, C., & Lansing, R. (2007). Connecting College Access Through Student Affairs Summer Bridge Program: A Collaboration between UNM and CNM. New Mexico Student Affairs Symposium, Albuquerque, NM. Agoyo, P., James-Pino, T., & Nelson, C. (2007). Building Community: Accomplished Program for American Indian Students Create Bridges to Successful College Experiences. National Association of Student Personnel Administrators National Conference, Orlando, FL. James-Pino, T., Nelson, C. (2007). Preparing for the First Year of College: American Indian Summer Bridge Program. Convening for Student Success II, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM.