Melissa Peterson

Since stepping foot on KU's campus in 2015, Peterson has been a strong advocate for students. She not only advocates for Native Americans at KU but has a strong commitment to advance the support for underserved students, first-generation college students like herself, and students who are Pell-eligible. As demonstrated in the commitment to the work she led through Hawk Link, Haskell/KU Exchange Program and the MSP Scholars Program. Peterson is now an Assistant Research Professor in the Office of Sovereign Partnerships working closely with the Life Span Institute and Indigenous Studies Program. 

Peterson, born and raised on the Navajo Nation is of the T ł 'ízí lání clan (Many Goats) born for the Todích'íí'nii clan (Bitter Water), she previously served as Director of Tribal Relations at KU, and prior to that role, she served as an associate director for KU TRIO Supportive Educational Services & STEM, and assisted the Haskell/KU Exchange Program. Before working at KU, Peterson served as head coach of the Haskell Indian Nations University volleyball team and later assisted the Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools grant at Haskell.