An Garagiola

An Garagiola, descendent of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, is a mother of three, a Ph.D. student in American Studies, and Project Manager in the Office of Native American Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Her studies and work intersect at the confluence of research ethics and data sovereignty. Garagiola holds an Associate’s degree from Century College, bachelors degrees in Sociology and Women's Studies from Hamline University, and a Master of Public Policy degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. An is part of the core research team on the Towards Recognition and University-Tribal Healing (TRUTH) Project. She was the University Coordinator and a lead researcher for TRUTH, scouring the historical archives at UMN and MNHS to uproot the full story of the founding board of regents. Through the examination of treaties, legislation, maps, archived communications, and ledgers, Garagiola’s research has uncovered how the founding regents drove a pattern of wealth transfer from Indigenous Peoples to the institution, often for their own personal gain. Off-campus, An is an Organizational Development Consultant, working with organizations to integrate Indigenous management, development, research, evaluation, and data sovereignty practices into internal and external partnerships. Prior to coming to UMN, An worked on policy projects related to food sovereignty/insecurity, campus basic needs access, increasing the representation of Indigenous students in higher education, and making college a more successful experience. She is passionate about designing plans which help systems become more equitable, sustainable, and accessible for people who institutions continue to marginalize.