Connect & Network

Help Form an American Indian Alumni & Friends Group

The Department of American Indian Studies is currently seeking support from its past alumni, friends, and allies. Through research, the University has seen a national trend: Alumni and friends of our programs form support groups that enhance the workings of our departments. Similarly, we in the Department of American Indian Studies are calling all interested parties to join together to form an American Indian Studies Alumni and Friends Group.

The purpose of the University American Indian Studies Alumni and Friends Group is to organize American Indian Studies alumni and other friends of the department for the benefit and advancement of the American Indian community and the University's alumni, students, faculty, and staff.

What types of goals will this group pursue?

• Provide an opportunity for alumni to take advantage of social, intellectual, cultural, and educational resources at the University via the Department of American Indian Studies.
• Promote access to the University’s academic, administrative, and economic resources for the advancement of the American Indian community.
• Promote recruitment, retention, and success of American Indian students, faculty, and staff at the University.
• Provide financial, academic, social, and professional support to American Indian students, faculty, and staff.

How can alumni and friends benefit from working together?

• Network and gain experience. Develop more social, professional, and cultural networks while you're recruiting new members and hosting events.
• Expand your relations toolkit. Increase your knowledge of key university relations and higher education development strategies while you are recruiting and ensuring the success of new students and staff.
• Enhance your advocacy skills and community relations. Evolve your understanding as you work with public policy and American Indian educational issues. You have an opportunity to work with the community to promote the issues of interest and importance to our alumni and friends group.
• Improve your financing strategies. Significantly improve your competency in capital development drives and American Indian economic development as you raise funds to establish and further develop scholarship programs aimed to benefit American Indian students, alumni, and friends.

If you want to help to establish this group, please e-mail or call the Department of American Indian Studies at aminstud@umn.edu or 612-624-1338.

College of Liberal Arts

You are also invited to connect and network with the College of Liberal Arts and the University of Minnesota.

• Connect with more than 55,000 Gophers worldwide: become a member of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA)
• Exchange career-related advice and share network with fellow alumni:
  • CLA Alumni LinkedIn Group
  • Maroon & Gold Network  
  • UMAA LinkedIn Group

Learn more about how CLA Career Services can support alumni.

Learn about the easy ways to help the U of M succeed at the Capitol by becoming part of UMN Advocates.

The College of Liberal Arts alumni relations office is here for you! Find out more about what's happening in CLA and how to get involved.