CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White announced the appointment this week.
“I am honored that Chancellor White has asked me to serve as presidential advisor to this important California State University Native American Initiative,” says Rossbacher. “At HSU, our Strategic Plan includes a call to serve and engage with local Tribal Nations. I look forward to interacting with Native American leaders and university campuses throughout the state to improve recruitment, retention, and graduation rates for Native American populations in the CSU.”
This role includes hosting an annual meeting with representatives from key campuses responsible for academic support and programming for Native American populations; interfacing with Tribal leaders throughout the state; identifying and supporting strategies to improve recruitment, retention, and graduation rates for Native American students in the CSU; and engaging and supporting faculty, staff, and student research on Native American communities.
The NAI began in March 2006, when the CSU held a summit with leaders representing 40 California tribes to discuss strategies to build a college-going culture among Native American families. Recommendations from the summit included the convening of regional meetings to discuss educational partnerships between CSU campuses and tribal communities.
Humboldt State University was the first campus in the California State University system to offer a baccalaureate degree in Native American Studies. For more than four decades, HSU has provided Native students academic and community support through the Indian Natural Resource, Science & Engineering Program (INRSEP) and Indian Tribal & Education Personnel Program (ITEPP).