Indigenous Studies at Johns Hopkins University3/10/2026On behalf of the Critical Diaspora Studies Undergraduate Working Group
Housed under the Chloe Center for the Critical Study of Racism, Immigration, & Colonialism, CDS is the only undergraduate discipline to center one of its focus areas on Global IndigeneitiesWe have hosted events on the importance of Indigeneous studies and its contributions and legacies within and outside of academic institutions like Johns HopkinsWhy Critical Diaspora Studies?
TABLE OF CONTENTSIndigenous Education at HopkinsComparative EffortsWhat We Can Do010203
Indigenous Education at HopkinsThe current state of Indigenous studies at the Johns Hopkins University01
Land AcknowledgementJohns Hopkins University is located on Piscataway and Susquehannock land–a fact only acknowledged by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
What Exists:Hopkins Center for Indigenous HealthNo Homewood presenceOccasional FYS and/or other courses created by non-Indigenous-specializing facultyIndigenous Peoples Day Pow WowRun by Johns Hopkins Center for Diversity & Inclusion–not an Indigenous-focused organization
No tenure-track American Indigenous Studies faculty in any departmentNo department or program dedicated to the study of IndigeneityNo regular-occurring classes on American Indigenous studiesNo curriculum on local Chesapeake/Indigenous historiesNo undergraduate Indigenous student organizationLittle to no existing relationship with local Indigenous communitiesWhat Does Not Exist
Why does this matter?The Johns Hopkins University prides itself on staying at the forefront of cutting-edge research in inter- and multi-disciplinary fields.Students in a multitude of fields, including but not limited to Political Science, Environmental Science, International Studies, History, Public Health, Anthropology, Sociology, have limited opportunities to take courses on Indigenous pasts, presents, or futures.We are being deprived of education.
Comparative Efforts02Other peer universities are leading the way
Universities’ Indigenous Studies (Departments)University of New MexicoArizona State UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityUniversity of Illinois,University of ColoradoDartmouth UniversityUniversity of Alaskaall have full departments & degrees in Indigenous Studies
Peer Institutions Expanding (Programs and Centers)University of Chicago- Center for the Study of Race, Diaspora, and IndigeneityColumbia University- Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights ProgramYale University- Ethnicity, Race & Migration ProgramCornell University- American Indian and Indigenous Studies ProgramStanford University- Native American Studies ProgramUChicago Center Study for Race, Diaspora, & IndigeneityMajor & minorUahikea Maile- Kanaka Maoli scholar, Assistant ProfessorYale Ethnicity Race & MigrationMajorNed Blackhawk- Professor of History and of American StudiesHiʻilei Hobart- Assistant Professor of Native and Indigenous StudiesCornell UniversityMinorJoleen Rickard- Associate Professor, The History of Art and Visual StudiesTroy Richardson- Associate Professor, American Indian & Indigenous Studies ProgramStanford UniversityMajor & minorTeresa LaFramboise- directs the Native American Studies program in the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and EthnicityOffer Lakota, Diné, Hawaiian, Samoan, Haitian Creole, and Nahuatl
What We Can Do03A call to action
Next StepsSend an email to administration calling for the university to prioritize the hiring of an American Indigenous Studies, tenure-track faculty member immediately following the current hiring freezeHire an American Indigenous Studies, tenure-track faculty member in an existing department (e.g., History, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology)This faculty will ensure expanded curriculum in the field of Indigenous Studies
What does this do?Ensures courses do not disappear if non-tenure-track faculty departPromotes long-term curriculum planning + continuityExpands graduate & undergraduate advisingGuarantees departamental hiring voiceExpands educational, academic, & institutional diversity and permanenceOpens up opportunities for community engagement & partnerships
THANKSDo you have any questions?hopkins.cds@gmail.comvhan3@jh.edu