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New appointee to improve UA's American Indian communications

In an effort to improve campus cultural resource centers, UA President Peter Likins created a new position to improve relations between the university and the American Indian community.

Likins recently appointed Mary Jo Fox ambassador to the American Indian nations and associate to the president for American Indian affairs - a role aimed at improving the relationship between the university and tribal nations. Likins also created the position in hopes of coordinating American Indian programs on campus, Fox said.

"Her job is to connect with tribes all over Arizona, and to connect with the 20 or so different programs on our campus to better integrate and better coordinate all we are trying to do for our current Native American students and future students," Likins said in a Sunday interview on KVOA-TV.

Fox said she was enthusiastic about helping the tribes and campus programs coordinate with each other.

"It's better utilization of resources," said Fox, who is also an associate social scientist in the American Indian studies program. "We can serve tribes more effectively by knowing what everyone is doing. It's just really having better collectives and collaboration with the different programs on campus."

While Arizona State University created the same position about three years ago, former University of Arizona President Manuel Pacheco rejected the idea when it was suggested to him, said Glenn Johnson, director of the American Indian graduate center said.

Prior to her appointment, there was no resource tribes could contact with their questions, Fox said, adding that this caused confusion and frustration.

"We've always tried to meet the needs of Native Americans," she said. "This is the first time the president has said we need someone to coordinate everything."

Fox's duties also include keeping Likins updated on programs within the American Indian community.

Johnson said prior to the creation of the position, it was difficult to organize requests for donations from Arizona's 21 tribal nations.

"It helps us as an institution in our donation solicitation," he said.

Johnson added that because Arizona has the third largest American Indian population, it is significant that the university created a role to improve relations with them.

"It's an important recognition by the university to the sovereignty of the American Indian nations," Johnson said. "It's a very welcome move and a step forward."

James Christenson, an associate dean in the College of Agriculture, agreed with Johnson that Fox would help communications with tribal nations.

"It puts the president in more direct relation with the tribes," said Christenson, who works with American Indian programs. "I think it's a very positive appointment."

While most agree that Fox's position will benefit the UA and tribal nations, Likins said it's only the first step in improving multiculturalism on campus.

"We need to provide every student with an opportunity to learn and grow in a genuine multicultural environment," Likins said in the interview. "We've made some progress, but we've got a ways to go."