Dr. Karen Swisher
Haskell Indian Nations University

Biography:

Dr. Karen Gayton Swisher is the first woman to head Haskell Indian Nations University. Dr. Swisher, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who was born and raised on the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota, joined Haskell in 1996 to direct its teacher-training program and chair its teacher education department. She was named interim president in July 1999 and served until May 2000, when she became the permanent president.

Dr. Swisher has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Master of Science degree in Elementary School Administration from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and a doctoral degree in Educational Administration from the University of North Dakota. She also has higher education experience from Huron College in South Dakota, the University of Utah and Arizona State University.

Dr. Swisher has been active in numerous education organizations including the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) and the American Educational Research Association, and served on the boards of the Urban Indian Education Research Center, the American Indian College Fund, and Girl Scouts of the USA. She received NIEA’s highest award, Indian Educator of the Year, in 1997, and was named Native American Educator of the Year by the Kansas Association for Native American Education in 1998.