Kevin Abourezk
ICT
An Osage educator and leader in higher education will serve as the interim president of Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, the Bureau of Indian Education announced Monday.
Alex Red Corn, who holds a doctorate in education, currently serves as director and associate professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Kansas, as well as associate vice chancellor for sovereign partnerships and Indigenous initiatives. His career has been dedicated to advancing educational opportunities for Native students and building capacity within tribal communities.
“Dr. Red Corn’s deep understanding of education and his longstanding commitment to Native students make him an ideal leader for Haskell during this time,” said BIE Director Tony Dearman in a press release. “This partnership with the University of Kansas is a model for how we can strengthen institutions through collaboration and shared purpose, allowing us to bring in exceptional talent from within the community to lead Haskell during a pivotal time.”
Red Corn takes the helm of one of only two post-secondary institutions controlled by the BIE through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The other is the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Taking the leadership role comes at an uncertain time in Native higher education, which has been the target of the Trump Administration. On Feb. 14, 2025, the administration laid off all probationary federal employees, which led to Haskell losing nearly a quarter of its staff, nearly all of whom have been rehired since then.
Red Corn founded the Indigenous Educational Leadership Graduate Certificate program at Kansas State University, and he established a similar program at the University of Kansas in 2025. He has also led partnership programs with the Osage Nation, increasing the number of graduates with master’s degrees in education. He has served as executive director of the Kansas Association for Native American Education and as chair of the Kansas Advisory Council for Indigenous Education.
His scholarship has focused on empowering tribes to take a leading role in their citizens’ education.
He holds a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and a graduate certificate in qualitative research methods from Kansas State University, along with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in social studies education from the University of Kansas. His numerous honors include the 2023 Wilma Mankiller Memorial Award from the National Education Association and recognition as an Emerging Scholar by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education in 2022.
“I’m motivated by this exciting opportunity to be in community with Haskell students, faculty and staff as we collectively continue the good work of enhancing student success and advancing tribal sovereignty in service to Indian Country,” Dr. Red Corn said.
The BIE is employing Red Corn through a federal program called the Intergovernmental Personnel Act program, which enables the department to make temporary assignments, typically lasting up to two years, between federal agencies and eligible organizations. His assignment is a partnership between the federal agency and the University of Kansas.
The BIE plans to continue searching for a permanent president for Haskell, which has an average enrollment of more than 1,000 students each semester, with students representing 140 federally recognized tribes from across the United States.