Dr. Aldora “Dodie” White Eagle (3ii'ook)
Arapaho
Dr. Aldora "Dodie" White Eagle, (3ii'ook) an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous students, deeply rooted in her roles as a mother, grandmother, daughter, auntie, and sister. Raised on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, her personal journey as a first-generation college student fuels her unwavering commitment to expanding educational opportunities and creating inclusive spaces for all youth.
As Senior Director for the Center for Campus and Access Engagement (CACE) at the University of Colorado Denver, Dr. White Eagle's career embodies her passion and expertise. In past positions, Dr. White Eagle was hired as the first woman Chief Executive Officer for the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Beyond administration, she is a respected scholar, having served as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Utah. Her research included the impact of non-Native partnerships with Native nations and the development of culturally relevant curricula, demonstrating her commitment to sharing knowledge and best practices. Her broader research, published in journals such as the Journal of American Indian Education and the International Journal of Multicultural Education, focuses on critical areas. Specifically, her two-year study published in the Journal of American Indian Education examined the factors leading Northern Arapaho youth to leave public school before graduation. Through interviews with these students, she identified similarities and differences between Northern Arapaho, other American Indian, and marginalized dropouts, and developed recommendations for improving student retention.
Dr. White Eagle's drive for educational equity is profoundly connected to her Arapaho people. A descendant of a Sand Creek Massacre survivor, and granddaughter of Josephine White and Richard White Antelope, who fiercely advocated for their Sand Creek relatives' memory, she honors the past while building a just future. Her scholarly work is further evident in her co-authorship of "A Love Letter to My Granddaughter" in the book Relationality: The Need to Indigenize Social Studies Education Research. This chapter, published in 2024 by Information Age Publishing, explores critical issues in Indigenizing social studies education and demonstrates her dedication to advancing culturally responsive teaching practices. Inspired by her grandchildren and a vision for future generations, she strives to create a just and inclusive community where all Indigenous youth have the resources and support to thrive in higher education and beyond. She believes that education is the great equalizer and often quotes the Crow Chief Plenty Coups, Aleek- chea-ahoosh, "Education is your most powerful weapon. With education, you are the white man's equal; without education, you are his victim, and so shall remain all your lives."