Native Americans, particularly Native American women and girls, are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Because of this lack of representation, Native American women and girls do not see themselves in STEM careers because of the lack of role models.

Join us October 7, 2021 at 1:00 PM CST for this dynamic panel of Native American women who have thrived in STEM careers. The panelists will share their career journeys and provide advice and tips for Native American young girls and women who are interested in pursuing a STEM career.

This event will be live-streamed on Facebook Live. Watch online only.

The museum will be open to the public with regular hours, reserve your free timed ticket for entry.

This event will be recorded and archived on our website at a later date.

THIS EVENT IS SPONSORED BY THE CAROLINE AND ORA SMITH FOUNDATION

About Presenters

MARY SMITH

CHAIR AND CEO OF THE CAROLINE AND ORA SMITH FOUNDATION

Mary Smith is Chair and CEO of the Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation, which supports and trains Native American girls in STEM. She is the past CEO of the Indian Health Service, a $6 billion organization that serves over 2.2. million Native Americans nationwide. An experienced global executive at a Fortune 250 company, she serves on several boards. Previously, she was responsible for Native American policy in the White House. She is a past president of the National Native American Bar Association. She began her career in STEM working in technology as a systems programmer.

ROBIN MAXKII

AWARD-WINNING CREATIVE AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ACTIVIST

Robin Maxkii, Stockbridge Mohican, is an award-winning creative and Indigenous rights activist. She was the subject of the Google documentary 'Between Worlds’ and co-starred on the PBS series “CodeTrip”. From directing the first national Native American collegiate hackathon to creating and penning national campaigns centered around Native American issues; her work regularly focuses on redefining storytelling through technology while broadening the participation of under-served communities within creative spaces.

SARAH ECHOHAWK

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - AMERICAN INDIAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SOCIETY (AISES)

Sarah EchoHawk, a citizen of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, has been working on behalf of Native people for over 20 years. She has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) since 2013. Prior to joining in AISES, Ms. EchoHawk was the Executive Vice President of First Nations Development Institute, a national nonprofit organization with a focus on economic development for American Indians. Ms. EchoHawk also served as the interim CEO for the organization’s subsidiary, First Nations Oweesta Corporation, during its management transition in 2010. Before joining First Nations Development Institute, she spent several years working for the American Indian College Fund raising support for tribal colleges and universities. During her tenure there, she served in many areas including operations, program management, communications, foundation relations, and individual giving. Ms. EchoHawk was an adjunct professor of Native American Studies at Metro State University of Denver for nine years where in addition to teaching introductory Native American studies courses, she also taught Native American Politics and co-taught Native Americans and Law with her father, John Echohawk, who co-founded the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) in 1970.

Ms. EchoHawk serves on multiple boards. She is currently the Vice Chair for Native Americans in Philanthropy, and as the Chair for the Native Ways Federation. She is an Emeritus board member and former Chair of Red Feather Development Group. She is also a member of the ad hoc committee at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a project addressing the underrepresentation of women of color in tech. Additionally, Ms. EchoHawk is a member of the advisory board for the American Indian Policy Institute at the University of Arizona, Collaborative Advisory Board for Women of Color in Computing Research, Champions Board for the National Girls Collaborative, and is a former board member for the Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN). She is the PI/Co-PI on multiple National Science Foundation grant projects and previously served as an Ambassador for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Minorities in Energy Initiative.

Ms. EchoHawk has a Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM) degree from Regis University and an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Native American Studies from Metro State University of Denver. She attended law school at the University of Colorado and completed additional graduate coursework in applied communications at the University of Denver

Pathways to STEM Careers for Native American Women and Girls