Episode 181: Indigenizing Higher Education with Dr. Robin Zape-tah-hol-ah Minthorn

In Episode 181,  Ben speaks with Dr. Robin Zape-tah-hol-ah Minthorn. Dr. Minthorn is an enrolled citizen of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma. She is a full professor at the University of Oklahoma in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department and, in 2025 will be the first Indigenous President-Elect of the Association For The Study of Higher Education. 

In this conversation, Dr. Minthorn discusses her journey as an Indigenous scholar and educator, focusing on the impact of historical trauma on education, the transformation of boarding schools into healing spaces, and the importance of Indigenous leadership in higher education. She emphasizes the need for indigenizing educational practices, creating inclusive spaces for Indigenous students, and the role of tribal colleges in providing access to higher education. Dr. Minthorn also reflects on her return to Oklahoma and the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in the current political climate, advocating for resilience and community support.

Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

BACB: 2.5 Learning
IBAO: 2.5 Cultural
QABA: 2.5 DEI

Contact

Dr. Robin Zape-ah-toh-lah Minthorn

Email: robstarr@ou.edu

Faculty Website: https://www.ou.edu/education/people/faculty/robin-minthorn

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-zape-tah-hol-ah-minthorn-68515828/

Links:

The Association For The Study of Higher Education

https://www.ashe.ws/

Articles Discussed:

Bill, D.; Minthorn, R.Z.-t.-h.-a.; Montgomery, M. Visioning Indigenous Futures: Centering Sovereignty and Relationality in Belonging. Educ. Sci. 2022, 12, 678. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12100678

Davidson, C., Shotton, H., Minthorn, R. & Waterman, S. (2018). Chapter 1. The Need for Indigenizing Research in Higher Education Scholarship. In R. Minthorn, H. Shotton & R. Minthorn (Ed.), Reclaiming Indigenous Research in Higher Education (pp. 7-17). Ithaca, NY: Rutgers University Press. https://doi.org/10.36019/9780813588728-003

Minthorn, R., & Chavez, A. F. (2014). Indigenous leadership in higher education. In Indigenous leadership in higher education (pp. 19-23). Routledge.

Minthorn, R., & Craig, A. (2023). Embodying an Indigenous-Centered Approach to Mentorship in Doctoral Programs. In Best Practices and Programmatic Approaches for Mentoring Educational Leaders (pp. 1-15). IGI Global.

Minthorn, R. Z. (2018). Indigenous Motherhood in the Academy, Building Our Children to Be Good Relatives. Wicazo Sa Review, 33(2), 62–75. https://doi.org/10.5749/wicazosareview.33.2.0062

Shotton, H. J., Tachine, A. R., Nelson, C. A., Minthorn, R. Z., & Waterman, S. J. (2018). Living Our Research Through Indigenous Scholar Sisterhood Practices. Qualitative Inquiry, 24(9), 636-645. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800417744578

Youngbull, N. R., Wagnon, J. D., & Minthorn, R. Z. tah hol ah. (2023). Inspiring Empowerment, Leadership, and Advocacy of Indigenous Women Through a Native American Sorority. Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education, 16(4), 275–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/26379112.2023.2269284