Janelle Whipple, MTAG

Headshot of Janelle Whipple.
  • Associate of arts in Liberal Arts from my tribal college Nebraska Indian Community College
  • Bachelor of arts in General Studies with an emphasis in History, Native American Studies & Sociology from University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO)
  • Master’s degree in Tribal Governance and Administration (MTAG) from University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)

Han Mitakuyapi, cante’ waste’ nape ciyuzapi. (Hello, I would like to greet you with a good handshake). Wakiyan Ska Win de miye de ga. (Wakiyan Ska Win is my Dakota name) Wasicu ia Janelle Whipple emakiyapi. (My English name is Janelle Whipple) de ga Isanti Makoce hematanhan. (I am from Isanti Land/Santee, Nebraska).  I am a proud enrolled member of the Santee Sioux Nation of Nebraska.  I would like to begin my statement in the Dakota Iyapi (Language) because this is vital to who I am as a person.  I am the Programs and Student Service Coordinator for that Native American Health Sciences Center for Native American Health Science Programs.  My educational background consists of an AA in Liberal Arts from my tribal college Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC), BA in General Studies with an emphasis in History, Native American Studies & Sociology from University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO), a Masters in Tribal Governance and Administration (MTAG) from University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) and currently a 2nd year Ph. D student, pursuing a Doctorate from Gonzaga University in Leadership Studies.  Although, I look good on paper my academic journey was extremely difficult for various reasons.  Therefore, I want to be a resource, mentor and advocate for as many Native American students as possible.  I want to be the person that students can learn from to help navigate them along their academic journey, so they have an enriched and rewarding experience.  My other goal is to be a positive role model for younger generations of Native American students both from the reservation and urban areas.  I just want to help encourage those younger generations that if I can do it, they can do it.  With that I will leave everyone with a quote from one of my favorite Native American scholars Vine Deloria Jr. “Every society needs educated people, but the primary responsibility of educated people is to bring wisdom back into the community and make it available to others so that the lives they are leading make sense”. -Vine Deloria Jr.  That is what I hope to do at WSU, to live up to that responsibility to help the community any way I can.  

Contact Janelle

509-358-7833

janelle.whipple@wsu.edu