NCAIHP now under Student Affairs, names director
Posted: April 23, 2015
ATSU’s National Center for American Indian Health Professions (NCAIHP) is now under the leadership of Student Affairs. NCAIHP’s mission is to inspire, support, educate, and retain American Indian (AI) and Alaska Native (AN) students in the health professions to improve the health and wellbeing of their tribal communities by incorporating the osteopathic principles of body, mind, and spirit along with traditional healing. “The Center is dedicated to recruiting AI/AN students and provide support services during their academic and professional careers,” says Beth Poppre, associate vice president-Student Affairs and supervisor for the Center.
Vikki Driving Hawk, MEd, has been selected as director for the NCAIHP. She holds a master’s degree in education for counseling and human relations from Northern Arizona University. Driving Hawk worked previously at ATSU’s Arizona campus as the associate director for residential admissions in 2007. Driving Hawk also worked in Student Affairs since 1992 in financial services, admissions, recruitment, and retention services. She has worked with several tribal communities in both Arizona and Wisconsin. “Driving Hawk has already represented ATSU and NCAIHP at student recruitment events for AI/AN students and is getting to know the current ATSU AI/AN students,” said Poppre.
NCAIHP is assisted by an advisory council chaired by ATSU alumnus Ron West, DPT, ’04. The council, which represents five AI cultures, includes George Blue Spruce, DDS, MPH, founding chair; Chris Halliday, DDS, MPH, dean, Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health; Dr. Wayne Mitchell; Gwen Werner, DMD, ’08; and Rowin Begay, DO, ’14. The advisory council helps the Center network with tribal communities and provides mentoring for ATSU’s next generation of AI/AN healthcare professionals.
NCAIHP is located in Building 5835 on the Arizona campus. For more information on NCAIHP and events, contact Vikki Driving Hawk at vdrivinghawk@atsu.edu or at 480-219-6108.
Website: www.atsu.edu/american-indian
NCAIHP Facebook: www.facebook.com/ATSUAmericanIndian
NCAIHP Twitter: https://twitter.com/ATSUNCAIHP