UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO: HIRE A TRIBAL LIAISON 

The All Nations Institute for Community Achievement (ANICA) requests your support in our efforts to encourage the University of San Diego (USD) to extend and increase funding for a Tribal Liaison position.



Indigenous peoples are, by far, the least represented student, staff, and faculty population at the University of San Diego. The San Diego region is the third most populated area for American Indians in California, just behind the Bay Area and Los Angeles County. Our University is surrounded by four autonomous Indigenous nations: the Kumeyaay, Luiseno, Cupeno, and Cahuilla. These four nations, represented by 17 federally recognized tribes, render San Diego County home to the largest concentration of individual tribes in the United States.



American Indians are distinct from other underrepresented groups at USD, in that they are distinguished by their political status as members of federally recognized and sovereign nations. This political status translates into different federal laws, tribal resources and lived experiences that require specialized knowledge to navigate with regard to American Indian educational opportunities and achievement.



A Tribal Liaison is critical to the success of our recruitment and retention of American Indian students, staff, and faculty, as our success is contingent on building and sustaining mutually beneficial relationships between USD and American Indian communities. American Indian communities are accustomed to non-tribal people starting but not sustaining relationships. A Tribal Liaison strongly signals of our intent to forge meaningful, sustainable relationships.

With the support of our campus and community partners, ANICA developed and implemented a Tribal Liaison Pilot Initiative staffed by Persephone Hooper. The outstanding success of this Pilot Initiative confirms the benefits of this position and our need to secure the necessary funds to ensure its continuance. In signing this petition, you affirm and support our efforts to sustain the work already begun through this initiative.

Thank you for your support! 

All Nations Institute for Community Achievement