The following is the text of a May 27, 2026, news release from the Institute of American Indian Arts.

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), the University for Indigenous Creative Excellence, is pleased to announce the establishment of the Pueblo Homelands Scholarship Endowment, created through an initial $50,000 gift from Rose B. Simpson (Santa Clara Pueblo) ’07, ’18, an IAIA alum, Trustee, and renowned artist. The new standalone endowed scholarship is intended to support undergraduate students at IAIA from the 19 New Mexico Pueblo Nations, the Hopi Nation, and the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Nation, and to grow over time as a source of merit-based scholarship support for generations to come.

Beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year, the fund is designed to support up to four students each academic year, with awards of up to $2,500 per student. Recipients must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate major at IAIA and be enrolled members of one of the eligible Nations or Pueblos. Selection will prioritize demonstrated merit in artistic, academic, cultural, and community-driven work, along with promise, leadership, innovation, and commitment to cultural continuity and community impact.

“At IAIA, scholarship support helps open pathways for students to thrive artistically, academically, and in service to their communities,” said IAIA President Dr. Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo). “We are deeply grateful to Rose B. Simpson for this visionary gift. The Pueblo Homelands Scholarship Endowment honors relationships to community, culture, and place, and it will help students from Pueblo, Hopi, and Ysleta Del Sur communities pursue their education with greater support while carrying forward the creativity and leadership our future depends on.”

“IAIA has been an important part of my journey as an artist, writer, and human being. Establishing the Pueblo Homelands Scholarship Endowment is one way for me to give back to a place that has helped shape so many Indigenous students. I hope this scholarship supports students from Pueblo, Hopi, and Ysleta Del Sur communities as they deepen their creativity, strengthen their connection to culture and community, and carry that work forward for future generations,” said Rose B. Simpson.

The scholarship also reflects Simpson’s ongoing relationship with IAIA, including the 2024 dedication of Heights I on campus and her service on the IAIA Board of Trustees.

In addition, during the first year of the Fund, through December 31, 2026, any donor who makes a contribution of $5,000 or more to the endowment will be recognized as a Founder of the Pueblo Homelands Scholarship Endowment. Founders may be acknowledged in donor listings, communications, and recognition materials related to the endowment.

Scholarships are needed by more than 80% of IAIA students. The Pueblo Homelands Scholarship Endowment expands that support through a long-term investment in students and in the cultural and creative futures of Indigenous communities.

Donations to support the Pueblo Homelands Scholarship Endowment may be made by contacting Kara Clem, Chief Advancement Officer, at kara.clem@iaia.edu.

About Rose B. Simpson
Rose B. Simpson (Santa Clara Pueblo) ’07, ’18 is a mixed-media artist from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. Her work engages ceramic sculpture, metals, fashion, performance, music, installation, writing, and custom cars. An IAIA alum and member of the IAIA Board of Trustees, she received an MFA in Ceramics from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2011, an MFA in Creative Non-Fiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in 2018, and an honorary doctorate from RISD in 2025. Simpson is the recipient of a Joan Mitchell Fellowship and the Women’s Caucus for Art President’s Award for Art & Activism. Her work has been exhibited internationally, featured in the 2024 Whitney Biennial, and collected by major institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She lives and works at Santa Clara Pueblo.

About the Institute of American Indian Arts
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)—the University for Indigenous Creative Excellence—is the only higher education institution in the world dedicated to the study of contemporary Native American and Alaska Native arts. IAIA offers undergraduate degrees in Cinematic Arts and Technology, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Indigenous Liberal Studies, Museum Studies, Native American Art History, Performing Arts, and Studio Arts; graduate degrees in Creative Writing, Studio Arts, and Cultural Administration; and certificates in Broadcast Journalism, Business and Entrepreneurship, Museum Studies, and Native American Art History. Recent partnerships such as those with The Walt Disney Company, Nike, The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), and NBCUniversal Media help students set down footprints in the creative community. IAIA serves approximately 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) Native and non-Native students, representing nearly 100 federally recognized Tribes. IAIA is among the leading art universities in the nation and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).