Dean Endo's Communications

Dear Colleagues: 

 

I write to share the news that Dr. Michelle Montgomery (enrolled Haliwa Saponi/descendant Eastern Band Cherokee) has agreed to serve as Interim Cohort Director of Muckleshoot Programs for the School of Education, effective August 01, 2023-February 29, 2024, following Dr. Robin Minthorn's last day at UWT on July 31, 2023. 

Dr. Montgomery will work closely with Dr. Chris Knaus, who will step in as Interim EdD Faculty Program Director on August 01, 2023, and MEd Faculty Program Director Dr. Matthew Weinstein, on supporting our current EdD and MEd Muckleshoot cohorts.

 

Dr. Montgomery is Associate Professor of American Indian Studies and Ethnic, Gender, & Labor Studies in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences here at UW Tacoma, where she is also Chair of the Division of Social & Historical Studies. She also serves as Assistant Director of the Office of Undergraduate Education at UW Tacoma. At UW Seattle, she is Interim Director of Undergraduate Studies and Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Bioethics & Humanities. Dr. Montgomery also serves as Co-Coordinator and External Indigenous Advisor of the Sustainable Leadership Program at the University Minnesota Morris. 

 

Dr. Montgomery, who has been an Adjunct Associate Professor and Indigenous Curriculum & Community Advisor in the School of Education at UW Tacoma for three years, has long been connected to the Muckleshoot Tribe. Dr. Montgomery was instrumental, with Dr. Robin Minthorn and Ashley Walker at UW Tacoma, in addition to Dr. Denise Bill and Dr. Amy Maharaj with Muckleshoot Tribal College, in launching our inaugural Muckleshoot cohorts (EdD in summer 2020 and MEd in autumn 2022). Moreover, Dr. Montgomery was the student-selected EdD faculty speaker at our 2023 hooding ceremony, demonstrating her positive and transformative impact to students. 

 

An internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Montgomery's research focuses on Indigenizing and decolonizing the climate justice narrative, environmental ethics connected to Indigenous Peoples’ identities, and eco-critical race theory to eliminate racial and environmental oppression. 

 

I thank Dr. Montgomery for stepping into this interim leadership role. We will keep everyone apprised as new developments occur.

 

Respectfully,

Rachel Endo

Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to share the news that Dr. Robin Minthorn, EdD Faculty Program Director, Director of Indigenous Education Initiatives, and an Associate Professor in the UWT School of Education, has accepted a position as Chair and Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies with the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma, one of the top R1s in the nation. Her last day at UWT is tentatively scheduled for August 2023 (still TBD). 

  

Since joining UWT in August 2019, Dr. Minthorn has modeled active and reciprocal engagement with stakeholders at all levels, embodying exceptional leadership and service. For example, she revamped the EdD curriculum and conceptual framework in collaboration with Education and Nursing & Healthcare leadership colleagues in summer 2020 to center anti-racism and decolonizing pedagogies as core values; was instrumental in the formation of a dynamic partnership with Muckleshoot Tribal College, leading to the creation of EdD and MEd Muckleshoot cohorts; and co-founded the Muckleshoot Education Partnership Committee and the Native Indigenous Community Connections in Education (NICCE) Advisory Board. Other notable accomplishments include founding and leading UWT’s Indigenizing Pedagogy Institute, and service on various unit-level, campus-wide, and UW advisory boards, committees, councils, and task forces. 

 

On a personal note, I have greatly appreciated learning from Dr. Minthorn and her family over the past 4 years. Her deep commitment to advancing access and justice for BIPOC and other minoritized communities, families, learners, and professionals, and her willingness to share her knowledge with all of us, is inspirational. While we will miss her greatly, I know she will be an outstanding leader, and will serve her future colleagues and students at the University of Oklahoma very well. 

 

In terms of next steps, my office will soon start outreach with key stakeholders, including faculty and staff, to elicit feedback for the upcoming transition in terms of both interim and permanent leadership plans.

We will also let everyone know of a gathering later this summer 2023 to thank Dr. Minthorn for her exceptional service and to wish her well as she transitions to the University of Oklahoma.

 

Rachel Endo 

Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to share the news that Dr. Robin Minthorn, EdD Faculty Program Director, Director of Indigenous Education Initiatives, and an Associate Professor in the UWT School of Education, has accepted a position as Chair and Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies with the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma, one of the top R1s in the nation. Her last day at UWT is tentatively scheduled for August 2023 (still TBD).

Since joining UWT in August 2019, Dr. Minthorn has modeled active and reciprocal engagement with stakeholders at all levels, embodying exceptional leadership and service. For example, she revamped the EdD curriculum and conceptual framework in collaboration with Education and Nursing & Healthcare leadership colleagues in summer 2020 to center anti-racism and decolonizing pedagogies as core values; was instrumental in the formation of a dynamic partnership with Muckleshoot Tribal College, leading to the creation of EdD and MEd Muckleshoot cohorts; and co-founded the Muckleshoot Education Partnership Committee and the Native Indigenous Community Connections in Education (NICCE) Advisory Board. Other notable accomplishments include founding and leading UWT’s Indigenizing Pedagogy Institute, and service on various unit-level, campus-wide, and UW advisory boards, committees, councils, and task forces.

On a personal note, I have greatly appreciated learning from Dr. Minthorn and her family over the past 4 years. Her deep commitment to advancing access and justice for BIPOC and other minoritized communities, families, learners, and professionals, and her willingness to share her knowledge with all of us, is inspirational. While we will miss her greatly, I know she will be an outstanding leader, and will serve her future colleagues and students at the University of Oklahoma very well.

In terms of next steps, my office will soon start outreach with key stakeholders, including faculty and staff, to elicit feedback for the upcoming transition in terms of both interim and permanent leadership plans.

We will also let everyone know of a gathering later this summer 2023 to thank Dr. Minthorn for her exceptional service and to wish her well as she transitions to the University of Oklahoma.

Rachel Endo