Welcome to the UCLA American Indian Studies Interdepartmental Program

Chair's Welcome Remarks to Students

On behalf of the American Indian Studies program, I warmly welcome all new and continuing students to UCLA. The opportunity to work with all of you as you matriculate and move through the undergraduate or graduate program is an honor. We hope that this website becomes an invaluable asset as it provides information and guidance for you during your time with the university.

UCLA is a well respected and honorable institution of higher learning. I graduated from UC Berkeley with both my masters and doctoral degrees in Public Health, and I have found that a degree obtained from the University of California carries a great deal of respect. You have undergone a very rigorous admissions process and you have been selected for admission over many, many applications. You were selected due to your past achievements, talents, strengths, and academic potential. Clearly, you have the ability to continue through the program, to graduate, and to begin your career.

Welcome to UCLA and we hope you have an excellent educational experience.

Felicia Schanche Hodge, Dr.P.H.
Professor, Chair Interdepartmental Program in American Indian Studies

GIVING TO THE AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROGRAM

The American Indian Studies Interdepartmental Program (IDP) at UCLA is one of the most well-known and revered programs in American Indian Studies throughout the nation. Current students and alumni of the program continue to make an important impact within Indian Country and in their respective communities. However, due to limited funding for the program, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain the level of quality expected from a program at one of the country's premier research institutions. Charitable donations to the American Indian Studies Interdepartmental Program are both needed and welcomed. Your donation may help to support such things as additional faculty, visiting scholars, courses, brown bag lunches with community members, and student scholarships.

If you are interested in contributing, please contact Dr. Felicia Hodge, Chair of the American Indian Studies IDP by email at fhodge@sonnet.ucla.edu or by telephone at 310-267-2255. Your donation is tax deductable.

SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS!

With state budget cuts and the rising cost of attending UCLA, it is becoming more difficult for our students to pay for the costs associated with tuition and fees, books, housing, transportation, and other basic needs. Your gift to one of our student scholarship funds will help to support students in the American Indian Studies IDP.

Fund for Graduate Students
A gift to the Scholarship Fund will help to support students in their first or scecond years of graduate level study for the masters degree (M.A.) in American Indian Studies. This scholarship was recently established to help M.A. students gain much-needed funding to support basic neesd such as housing and transportation, as well as to assist students in completing research and/or thesis projects.

Fund for Undergraduate Students
A gift to the Arianna & Hannah Yellowthunder Scholarship Fund will help undergraduates to pursue the bachelors degree (B.A.) in American Indian Studies. The Yellowthunder Fund was endowed in the early 1980's and provdies scholarships ranging from $1250 to $5000 to undergraduate students.