Senior Spotlights
Blanca Moreno
Arriving in the Fall of 2015, Blanca Moreno started her first semester here at Haskell. Moreno is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe living in Wagner, South Dakota.
She will be graduating this May with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in the Indigenous and American Indian Studies program.
Along with Moreno’s class schedule, she is involved with Haskell in a variety of ways. She practices and participates in Barbellas, an all-female weightlifting group. She has continuously been a part of Social Work Club since her first semester here at Haskell and she has also trained and practiced with the Cross Country team. In addition, Moreno has also trained and practiced on the Track and Field team before the cancellation of the program.
From Moreno’s time spent in the classroom, she advises to enroll
in courses you will enjoy, but to take a chance with courses you are afraid of. She mentions, “…a challenge and expanding your mind is always a good thing.”
As time has passed and Moreno’s college career comes to an end, she shares this:
“Work hard and never give up. Despite whatever life may throw at you, remember that you are here for a reason, so giving up is never an option. Just keep pushing, and eventually you’ll get to where you want to be. Do your best and always believe in yourself.”
Joseph Zupan
Coming to Haskell to play football in Spring 2015 and from Leavenworth, Kansas, this is: Joseph Zupan. He is Chippewa Cree from the Rocky boy’s reservation in northcentral Montana.
Zupan is currently majoring in Environmental Science and is expected to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree. Although he was not able to participate in the football program because of the cancellation, he has been heavily involved with the Haskell Tribal ecoAmbassadors Organization. He has contributed to this organization through wetland restora- tion.
In addition of being a full-time student, Zupan was selected as an intern for the Kansas INBRE Summer Scholar program. He was under the direction of Haskell Professor Dr.
Chapin where he conducted his research internship over the Haskell wetlands. Some of the classes he has encountered over the course
of his college career, have been beneficial and interesting to him. He suggests taking Principles of Ecology, Aquatic Biology and Vertebrate Zoology if you are majoring in Environmental Science.
As Joseph Zupan closes his chapter here at Haskell, he has some words of encouragement to leave for the Haskell student body:
“Don’t give up, try not to get discouraged. Everyone is going to get discouraged, but the real key is to not give up. You just keep pressing forward. Work hard, it will pay off later in life.”
Lindsey Robinson
In the Fall of 2015, Lindsey Robinson arrived at Haskell to begin her college education. Robinson, a member of the Osage Nation, is graduating this May with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis of Tribal Management.
Since her arrival she has been involved in various programs while on her journey her at Haskell. Robinson has participated with Haskell choir and was accepted into the KU Bridges program. She is currently an active member in the Alpha Pi Omega Sorority Inc. and is the current student body President.
While pursuing her degree she has found that following the current and updated course list for the Business program has been very helpful. She explains that this course listing will keep you on track and allow you to be successful for obtaining a bachelor’s degree.
As Lindsey Robinson moves on to her next chapter in life, she leaves some advisement for the student body.
“Remember Haskell isn’t perfect. Remember the good that comes out of it. This experience lasts with you forever.”
Caroline Wiseman
Caroline Wiseman is Inupiaq from the tribal village of White Mountain. Traveling from her home in the state of Alaska, Wiseman first arrived at Haskell in the Spring 2014.
She is currently majoring in Elemen- tary Education expecting to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree. Alongside her degree, she will also be obtaining her teacher certification licensure K-6 th for the state of Kansas.
Aside from her studies she is heavily involved with Haskell being a part of Alaska club, is a sorority member of Gamma Delta Pi in the Alpha class, a member of the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA), American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) member, serving as a Haskell Student Ambas- sador, held the title of Miss Haskell 2017-2018 and is the current Student Senate Parliamentarian.
Wiseman’s class schedule that is mostly 18 or 19 credit hours a semester, on top of her involvement, keeps her very occupied. In the Elementary Education program, she touches on the strict format where a cohort
is established and only having the opportunity to be accepted into the program during the fall semesters.
Wiseman highly suggests taking intercultural and interpersonal communication classes if joining this program to improve communication skills for her students and parents of students. She explains that as a student teacher, these classes have helped with some of her ELL students.
Some words of advice and encouragement from Caroline Wiseman:
“Go to class and be involved. I know that being so involved has helped me stay here and fight that home sick- ness because we all feel it. Try to immerse yourself in Haskell culture and find yourself. Drink lots of water and make good choices”
“Don’t give up, try not to get dis- couraged. Everyone is going to get discouraged, but the real key is to not give up. You just keep pressing forward. Work hard, it will pay off later in life.”
“Enjoy your time here as much you can. Try to meet new people and get to different places. It’s good to get out and see the world.”
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Jim Rains
Dr. Jim Rains is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and is the current Acting-Vice President of Academic Affairs of Haskell Indian Nations University. He is married with three kids, two daughters and a son. Rains expressed some of his hobbies; He loves baseball and watch- ing Michigan football and basketball. He mentioned he went to college on a baseball scholarship. Back home, in Montana, he enjoys fly fishing and horseback riding with his daughter.
When pursuing his college education, Rains attended Rocky Mountain Col- lege for his bachelor’s degree moving onto the University of Montana for
is Masters degree and concluding his college career attending the Univer- sity of Michigan for his doctorate.
Raines first arrived at Haskell in August 2014 to be hired as an English Professor. Later in his teaching career, Rains was asked to take on the role of Acting-Dean of Humanities. One year later he took on this Deanship permanently and low-behold is technically still the current Dean of Humanities. While having his current role of Acting-Vice President of Academic Affairs, Professor Rodriquez has “stepped up” to be the Acting- Dean of Humanities as Rains takes on his current role.
Rains expresses his enjoyment working closely with the administration and humanities team. He explains these individuals on this team are highly qualified and all work well together. Rains mentions the innovation that the team strives for, so that Haskell students can achieve. Various tools and resources are always being introduced to bring success, particularly writing, for students.
“We have a lot of wonderful students and I would certainly encourage them to continue to make the most out of Haskell, and to challenge the faculty and the institution to be better…You get out, what you put into it
