Elder in Residence

Retired Forestry Professor Jeff Kerwin leading a class at the Turf Grass Research Center.

Indigenous Fellow in Residence - Spring 2024

We are pleased to announce that our next Indigenous Fellow in Residence, Marcus Briggs-Cloud (Maskoke), will be visiting Virginia Tech April 8-12!

Indigenous Fellow in Residence Schedule

Schedule subject to change. Please check back for updates!

Monday, April 8, 2024

12:00 pm - 2:00pm: Lunch and “Meet and Greet” at Ati:Wa:oki Indigenous Community Center - Squires Student Center, Room 122 (Lunch sponsored by the Department of History)

2:00 - 3:00pm: Open meeting and conversation time for students, staff and faculty at Ati:Waoki Indigenous Community Center, Squires Student Center, Room 122

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

11:00am - 12:30pm: Garden Tour and Planting with Native@VT at the Indigenous Community Garden - Turfgrass Research Center (615 Southgate Dr, Blacksburg, VA 24060)

12:30 - 2:30 pm: Lunch with Native@VT at the Turfgrass Research Center Pavilion

5:00-6:00 pm: Open meeting and conversation time for students, staff and faculty at Ati:Waoki Indigenous Community Center, Squires Student Center, Room 122

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

10:00 am - 12:00 pm: - Social hour and open meeting time at Ati:Wa:oki Indigenous Community Center - Squires Student Center, Rm 122

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Public and Community Speaker Event at Newman Library, Classroom 207A (Light fare sponsored by Ati:Waoki Indigenous Community Center)

Thursday, April 11, 2024

1:00pm - 3:30pm - Forest Visit and Plant Hike at Pandapas Pond Day Use Area with Native@VT and the Indigenous Alliance (Meet at park parking lot at 12:50 or Squires Lot for van transit at 12:30pm. Lunch will be provided at the park. Please bring a water bottle and wear comfortable outdoor clothing. Event is rain or shine. Dress for the weather! Registration required - Sign up here)

Friday, April 12, 2024

8:45 am – 5:30 pm: Guest Speaker at the Ecological Restoration and Biocultural Summit at Virginia Tech - Free Event! Register here to attend!

Elder / Indigenous Fellow in Residence Program

The Elder / Indigenous Fellow in-residence program brings regionally or locally known elders to campus to serve in a mentoring role for Indigenous students here at Virginia Tech. Elders provide students with academic, social, and spiritual support.

While here, elders dedicate a full work week to engaging with students through various programs including:

Holding office hours for Indigenous students
Working with students to grow awareness of issues important to Indigenous Peoples in local, national, and global contexts
Working on a specialized project with students within the American Indian and Indigenous Cultural Center (AIICC)
Direct engagement in classrooms
Serving as guest speakers
Giving public talks

We are excited to announce that our first elder in residence, Mark Parman, will be joining us on campus from October 17 through the 21. Please scroll down for more information and a schedule of events below.*

If you would like to learn more, please contact project co-PI, Donna Westfall-Rudd.