Kestrel Smith
About Kestrel Smith
Dr. Kestrel A. Smith is an instructor of American Indian Studies (AIS), whose teaching and research broadly explore American Indian culture, history, and contemporary issues, with an emphasis on American Indian education and epistemologies. Much of her work has focused on how to place Native education within broader historical and cultural contexts in order to better understand the contemporary Native experience. In 2014 she completed her M.A. in AIS at the University of Arizona with a thesis examining the social impacts of Tribal Colleges and Universities. In 2018 she received her Ph.D. in AIS, with a minor in Higher Education, from the University of Arizona, completing her doctoral dissertation on Native student access to college-preparatory resources. She is a member of the American Indigenous Research Association and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association.
Projects
RESEARCH PROJECTS:
2016 Fall - Spring 2017: American Indian College Fund Collaboration Research Team.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATES:
2016 (Spring) Certificate in College Teaching. Office of Instruction and Assessment, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2015 (Fall) Certificate in Native Nation Building. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2015 (Spring) Certificate in American Indian Higher Education. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
Contact Information
Degree(s)
Doctor of Philosophy (May 2018). The University of Arizona. Major: American Indian Studies. Minor: Higher Education. Dissertation Title: Invisible Barriers to Higher Education in Indian Country: Standardized Testing.
Master of Arts (May 2014). The University of Arizona. Major: American Indian Studies. Thesis Title: Tribal Colleges and Universities: Beacons of Hope, Sources of Native Pride.
Bachelor of Arts (May 2010). Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Major: Interdisciplinary Studies. Minors: American Indian Studies & Sociology. Graduation, Magna Cum Laude.
Courses Taught
Instructor:
2017 Summer: AIS 200, Introduction to American Indian Studies. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2016 Summer: AIS 200, Introduction to American Indian Studies. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
Graduate Teaching Assistant:
2018 Spring: AIS 160A1, Many Nations of Native America. (Lead TA). American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2017 Fall: AIS 160A1, Many Nations of Native America. (Lead TA). American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2017 Spring: AIS 441A/541A, Natural Resource Management in Native Communities. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2016 Fall: AIS 697A, College Teaching Methods. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2016 Spring: AIS 565, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2016 Spring: AIS 450/550, American Indian Women. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2015 Fall: AIS 677, History of American Indian Education. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2015 Fall: AIS 697A, College Teaching Methods. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2015 Spring: AIS 160A1, Many Nations of Native America. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2014 Fall: AIS 160A1, Many Nations of Native America. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
Guest Lecturer:
2017 Oct. AIS 697A, College Teaching Methods. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2017 Sept: AIS 465/565, Tribal Colleges and Universities. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2017 Sept: AIS 677, History of American Indian Education. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2017 April: AIS 679, American Indian Higher Education. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2017 March: AIS 220, Contemporary American Indian Issues. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
2015 June: AIS 160A, Many Nations of Native America. American Indian Studies Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona.
