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Interview with Linda Warner, Haskell president
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Filed Under: Education

Diverse Issues in Higher Education interviews Dr. Linda Warner, a member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma who serves as president of Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas.

"DI: What are your top three goals for Haskell?

LW: I want Haskell to start acting like the university we CAN be! A friend recently advised me to quit talking about Haskell’s potential and start doing something about it. 2. We are making a concerted effort to raise awareness of our presence both in Indian country and beyond. 3. We are working to build a stronger relationship with the BIE K-12 schools (Bureau of Indian Education schools). We have created the RED center, Research, Evaluation and Dissemination, which will give our baccalaureate students credit for work on research that creates a culturally relevant curriculum for the BIE K-12 system. DI: What was the appeal of this position? LW: It was kind of like returning home for me. I had worked here in admissions for five years. My children and mother attended Haskell. I want my grandchildren to attend the school as well.

DI: Describe the main difference between mainstream universities/colleges and Haskell.

LW: The small size is one of the most important differences. It creates a community in which everyone knows everyone else, which is very similar to Indian communities. Haskell is not in competition with other tribal colleges for students. Those who wish to remain in their communities attend local tribal colleges; those students who wish to leave home come to Haskell.

DI: What are the personal and professional characteristics you think have helped you ascend to executive level positions in the academy?

LW: Persistence! I’ve always believed that I have the power to do what I wanted to do. As I get older, I notice that I am also more driven; I have a sense of urgency to get things done."

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