First Nations Graduate Circle

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The First Nations Graduate Circle (FNGC) is an organization of American Indian graduate and professional students at UNC-Chapel Hill. The organization provides advocacy, support, professional development, mentoring and social functions to American Indians across campus. Please contact one of our officers to be added to our listserv and receive notice of our meetings.

Some of our important activities include get-togethers for members, special events that coincide with American Indian Heritage Month (November), involvement in and support of the development of American Indian studies in many University disciplines, and a listserv through which FNGC members can learn more about local and national issues affecting American Indian.

Though FNGC is primarily made up of American Indian students, the organization is open for full membership and participation without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender.

The First Nations Graduate Circle is dedicated to and is working towards

  1. ensuring that our cultural heritage is recognized and respected at UNC through appropriate curriculum, research, and administrative support
  2. increasing the support for American Indian recruitment and retention
  3. increasing the visibility of Native culture on campus by helping to build the American Indian Studies program, increasing Native faculty and staff at UNC, and hosting cultural events

The FNGC, in conjunction with the UNC-CH Graduate School, is also increasing its' efforts to work with other American Indian student organizations on and off campus to build a stronger and more cohesive Native community.

FNGC works toward educating members of the Carolina community about not only our North Carolina Native communities, but also about the unique cultural heritage of Natives from all over the United States and Canada. Some of the organization’s goals are to provide mentoring and support to Native undergraduates, sponsor lectures and other events related to the academic and professional accomplishments of American Indians, and work toward making American Indians a more visible and active presence on the UNC campus at Chapel Hill.

2011-2012 First Nations Graduate Circle Officials

Co-Presidents
Mikaela Adams (PhD History)
Susannah Walker (Master's Social Work)
Secretary
Elizabeth Ellis (PhD History)
Treasurer
Jami Powell (PhD Anthropology)
American Indian Author Reading Group
Mikaela Adams (PhD History)
Writing Group
Susannah Walker (Master's Social Work)
American Indian Heritage Month Speaker/Panel
Courtney Lewis (PhD Anthropology)
Research Assistant/ American Indian Graduate Recruitment
Courtney Lewis (PhD Anthropology)

2010-2011 First Nations Graduate Circle Officials

Co-Presidents
Julie Reed (PhD History)
Courtney Lewis (PhD Anthropology)
Secretary
Karla Martin (PhD Education)
Treasurer
Mikaela Adams (PhD History)
Social Chair
Lee Adcock (PhD Education)
American Indian Author Reading Group
Melanie Gnau (ILS)
Writing Group
Brooke Bauer (PhD History)
American Indian Heritage Month Speaker/Panel
Jonathon Hancock (PhD History)

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