Supporting Native student success

Annette Reed had been retired from Sacramento State for all of a week when President Luke Wood approached her with a unique opportunity: The University was starting a first-in-California Native American College, and he wanted Reed to serve as its inaugural dean. After taking some time to think it over, and talk with colleagues and tribal leaders, Reed made the decision to return to Sac State, where she previously served as a professor and chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies. Her time at Sac State, however, was just one part of a long and dedicated career supporting Native students. In Beyond J’s first new episode of the spring semester, Reed talks with host Phillip Altstatt about the oppression many Native people – including members of Reed’s family – faced when it came to getting an education, her journey into and through academia, and her hopes and plans for the Native American College, which welcomes its first cohort this fall.