Kaylen James

Portrait of Kaylen James

Kaylen James is a PhD candidate in American Studies at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, where she is a member of the Critical Indigenous Studies Cohort and the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Workshop. She is Itazipco Lakota and Isanti Dakota, and an enrolled member of the Santee Sioux Nation of Nebraska. She grew up in Rapid City and Flandreau, South Dakota, and her families are the Red Dog, Good Bear, James, and Frazier tiospaye.

She graduated with a BA in American Studies and an MA in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development, both from the University of Minnesota. Prior to starting her PhD, she worked in K-12 education with the Flandreau Indian School. 

Kaylen was awarded Dartmouth College’s Charles Eastman Dissertation and Postdoctoral Fellowship, and with that position, concluded her time as a Graduate Instructor for the First Year Writing Program at the University of Minnesota.

Her research interests include Indigenous critical theory, relationality, liberalism, new media studies, celebrity & fame culture, Indigenous digital humanities, race & technology, fandom studies, organizational leadership & development, and Indian education.

In her personal time, she enjoys writing poetry, taking care of her cat, and baking and stargazing with her nieces and nephews.

Contact: james238@umn.edu

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