Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvleit
President, Antioch University Seattle
Chosen as the new president for Antioch University Seattle in July 2007, Dr. Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet became the first Native American woman to ascend to the presidency of an accredited university outside the tribal college system.Before her appointment in Seattle, Manuelito-Kerkvliet served as the first woman president of Diné College—the first tribally controlled community college—located on the Navajo reservation in Tsaile, Arizona. She is the great, great granddaughter of Navajo Chief Manuelito. At Oregon State University, she founded and directed the Indian Education Office. She has also worked in various student services and counseling positions at the University of Oregon, the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, the University of Wyoming, and Montana State University.
Degrees and Honors
- Bachelor’s degree, Social Work, University of Wyoming
- Master’s degree, Counselor Education, University of Wyoming
- Ph.D., Educational Policy and Management (with a specialization in higher education administration), University of Oregon
Service
- Washington Internships for Native Students Advisory Board, American University
- Haub School and Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources Advisory Board, University of Wyoming
- Consultant, American Indian College Fund
- Board Member, Washington Campus Compact
- Institute of Translational Health Science External Advisory Board, University of Washington
