Tippeconnic Receives Robinson Equal Opportunity Award

March 20, 2003
University Park, Pa. – Dr. John Tippeconnic, professor of education and director of the American Indian Leadership Program at Penn State, is the 2003 recipient of the James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award.

He is a member of the Comanche Tribe and is also part Cherokee.

The Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award was established in 1988 and renamed in 1998 to honor the late Dr. James Robinson, a distinguished alumnus and former Alumni Council member.  The award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has promoted equal opportunity through affirmative action and/contributes to enhancing the educational environment of the University through improving cross-cultural understanding. This award is sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Under Dr. Tippeconnic's leadership, the AILP has thrived, maintaining an outstanding national and international reputation as one of the oldest and most respected programs for American Indian leadership in the United States.  He is actively recruiting, counseling and mentoring the Native American graduate students, which currently total 17, as well as obtaining grants and funding for their support. More importantly, the students are being retained and they graduate with degrees and return home to become leaders in education.  Last year, he organized the AILP's 30th anniversary program that included a symposium on Indian education and a traditional pow wow. Individuals from throughout the University, the surrounding community and alumni from several tribes participated in the celebration.

In addition, he has been a champion for students, faculty and staff from all traditionally underrepresented groups. He served as the 2001-2002 chair of the president's Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity, successfully guiding it through several important initiatives involving the Universitywide Framework to Enhance Diversity, and chaired a search committee for the new director of the Affirmative Action and Diversity Education Support Office.  In 1999-2000, he also served as interim senior faculty mentor, supporting underrepresented faculty members' academic development and success. He also developed new courses that focus on diversity in education. He also is involved in a Principal's Academy for leaders from schools with Indian students where Penn State academic credit is offered.

A graduate of Penn State in the AILP program, he is nationally renowned for his leadership in Indian education. Prior to joining Penn State, he was director of the Office of Indian Education Programs for the Bureau of Indian Affairs with the U.S. Department of the Interior. He also was director of the Office of Indian Education within the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, his other positions included Vice President of the Navajo Community College in Arizona, acting director of the Center for Indian Education at Arizona State University, and associate deputy commissioner of the Office of Indian Education in the former U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He also works with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in their initiatives in American Indian higher education.

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Contact:  Vicki Fong at 814-865-9481 or at vfong@psu.edu