Student Employees
This past year, AIISP has had nine student employees who have become integral parts in continuing to keep the Program running smoothly. Not only do the student employees gain valuable office experience, but they help to inform the AIISP staff about current student viewpoints as well as remind us of the community the Program strives to be of service to.
Colin Benedict ’21
Colin Benedict is Mohawk Wolf Clan from the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. He is a current junior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, minoring in American Indian and Indigenous Studies and Inequality Studies. He currently serves as External Relations chair of NAISAC, treasurer of AISES, and as the VP of Diversity and Inclusion to the undergraduate Student Assembly. He has worked as an AIISP student employee since fall 2017.
Miki Bliahu ’22
Miki Bliahu is a sophomore in CALS. They are projected to graduate in 2022 with a major in Environment and Sustainability, and a minor in Indigenous Studies. They are Diné (Navajo) and their clan is Naakai dine’é. Miki is the secretary of NAISAC (Native American Indigenous Students at Cornell) and is an AIISP student employee.
Abigail Boatmun ’23
Abigail is a freshman majoring in Human Development. She is a member of the Cherokee Nation from Durant, Oklahoma. Abigail had a great time working for the AIISP office this year and can’t wait to become more involved with the program in the coming years.
Kimberly Fuqua ’21 (Graduate)
Kimberly is an integral component of the team. Her support with programming such as making flyers and helping to ensure that events are properly staffed along with being a constant recognized presence has helped to establish a welcome community at Akwe:kon. Kimberly is an active team member in the organizations that Akwe:kon hosts during the semester.
Kimberly is from the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. She is a special education teacher, working on her Master of Public Administration (MPA) focused on Social Educational Policy at the Cornell Institute of Public Affairs; she will graduate in May 2021. Experienced in teaching and advocacy for over 10 years, she has a passion for advocating for minorities and students with disabilities, and working in policy to ensure a fair and appropriate education for students in public schools.
She is the vice-president of the Indigenous Graduate Student Association at Cornell. She is also working toward the Systems Thinking Modeling Leadership Certificate. Kimberly is also interested in the human rights aspect of policy due to her personal experience, as her tribe continues to struggle for equality.
Brisa Lee ’23
Brisa Lee is Mohawk/Tarahumara and a freshman in the Hotel school. Brisa founded and incorporated a non-profit aimed at raising funds for Native American communities without access to clean water, engaging charitable contributions and running literacy initiative projects with her sister, Daniela. She has also been an honored guest illustrator during the Dr. Seuss Birthday annual event as well as at Read-Across-American celebrations.
Daniela Lee ’23
Daniela Lee is Mohawk/Tarahumara and a freshman Communications major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Daniela has worked with the Native American Advocacy Foundation, a non-profit founded by her sister, Brisa, focusing on Native American literacy initiatives, mentored underrepresented minorities in a second grade public school as a writing coach, as well as written and self-published three children’s books.
Avinash Patel ’21
Avinash (Avi) Patel is a Performing and Media Arts junior and minoring in Music. He studies filmmaking and makes music with his friends in his free time. Avi has been a student employee at the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program since his freshman year.
Paige Priest ’20 (Graduate)
Paige Priest is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians (Turtle Clan). She is from the Cattaraugus reservation and a member of the turtle clan. She is graduating May 2020 with a Master of Public Health concentrating in food systems and health. As a member of IGSA since her first semester at Cornell (Fall 2018), she has volunteered with Lafayette High School tutoring since Spring 2019, and began helping to assist with the tutoring program Fall 2019 and Spring 2020.
During this semester and last, Fall 2019 and Spring 2020, she helped to arrange a trip to the Syracuse University Indigenous Fashion Show, a bowling event, sewing nights, and a trip to the Skänoñh center with the help of other IGSA officers and NAISAC members. This last semester, she was the president of IGSA.
With her short time at Cornell she was only able to take the AIISP Speaker Series course last Fall, but she’s been extremely grateful for this Program, as it was truly her home away from home.
Madison Stevens ’21
Madison Stevens is a member of the Six Nations Mohawk and Seneca Nations. She is a junior Human Development major in the College of Human Ecology with a minor in Inequality Studies on a Health Equity Track. She is the co-chair of Native American and Indigenous Students at Cornell (NAISAC) and a member of the Cornell Women’s Club Lacrosse team. She has lived in Akwe:kon for both her freshmen and sophomore years at Cornell.
Cornell University
American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program