Tribal Relations AVP seeks to create a welcoming space for Native faculty, staff, students

Dr. Zoë Higheagle Strong has spent the past three decades working closely with tribal leaders and communities to improve education pathways, college access, and overall well-being for Native American students in the Pacific Northwest.

Now, she is putting her expertise to work for Central Washington University as the new Associate Vice President for Tribal Relations. After accepting the position last fall, Higheagle Strong joined the Wildcat family in early January.

And she has hit the ground running.

“I have had the privilege of working in Native education and tribal relations for many years, and I am deeply grateful for the relationships with tribal leaders that continue to teach me. These relationships will continue to guide and ground my work at Central,” said Higheagle Strong, a member of the Nez Perce tribe and a descendant of the Confederated Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

“One of the reasons I chose to come here was because I saw how committed CWU is to expanding access for all students,” she added. “I’m especially looking forward to helping the university strengthen its recruitment and admissions processes to make it more accessible and welcoming for Native American students.”

Higheagle Strong spent the past 10-plus years at Washington State University, serving in a variety of roles, including Vice Provost for Native American Relations and Programs, Director of Native American Research and Collaboration, Executive Director of Tribal Relations, and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology.

She is extremely proud of the work she accomplished collaboratively with tribes during her time in Pullman but noted that she was drawn to CWU because of its location.

“Because CWU sits in the center of the state, my hope is that we can serve as a welcoming gathering place for tribal convenings and cultural and educational opportunities,” she said.

Zoe Higheagle Strong talks with guests at the February 19 open house in the MCC. (Photos by David Dick)

Another deciding factor in her decision was that the AVP of Tribal Relations is an inaugural position at CWU — one for which she helped develop the job description.

“President (Jim) Wohlpart reached out to me last year seeking advice, and after getting to know him, I could see how serious he was about mending, building, and deepening CWU’s relationships with regional tribes,” Higheagle Strong said. “He understands how important it is for CWU to have someone experienced in this role, and by including the position in his Executive Leadership Team, he showed that this wasn’t just a token effort. He felt like this position should be embedded in the institutional system, and for me, that was critical.”

Aside from her experience in higher education, Higheagle Strong serves as the chair of the Higher Education Committee for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, representing 57 tribes. She also serves as the higher education representative on the Washington State Native American Education Advisory Committee for the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

She has been with OSPI since 2019, working with tribal educators and K-12 schools statewide to improve educational pathways and policies for Native American students.

“A big chunk of my career has been spent engaging with tribal communities and collaborating with them,” said Higheagle Strong, who grew up in Idaho and holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Washington. “It’s very meaningful work, and President Wohlpart realizes how important it is for higher education institutions to invest in this sort of relationship building. He supports me continuing to serve in these roles and working to provide broader service to tribes across the state, and that is a major reason why I decided to come here.”

When Wohlpart announced that Higheagle Strong had accepted the position last fall, he pointed to the depth and breadth of her experience, along with her proven track record of teaching, scholarship, and service.

“Her emphasis on relationships is critical to the work we have in front of us as we seek to understand how CWU can best serve the tribes in our region and the state,” the president said in an October 8, 2025, email to campus.

Higheagle Strong is already forming new partnerships between CWU and tribal leaders, scheduling two events on the Ellensburg campus this spring. The first is an open house and listening session with tribal government and education leaders in Sue Lombard Hall on March 12. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to the event by Friday, March 6.

That will be followed by an OSPI language and literacy conference April 21-23, which will welcome cultural elders and school officials to discuss higher education pathways for Native American students.

“Our immediate vision is for CWU to be an available, accessible place for tribes to gather,” Higheagle Strong said. “We want to help make it feel more normal to see tribal leaders and educators on campus. We want them to come here to speak to us, teach us, and share their knowledge with us. I am sure many of my colleagues would be eager to partner with various departments on campus, and I look forward to helping our faculty form new connections.”

Higheagle Strong hopes those lasting relationships she has built in the tribal community will help CWU earn trust as a place that celebrates and honors Native American culture and knowledge. She also wants Native American students to know she will advocate for them, and that they will be in good hands if they choose to attend Central.

“We want to create a space that supports and acknowledges the cultural needs of all students, whether they are in K-12 or college,” Higheagle Strong said. “We also want to make it easier for them to come here, whether it’s making the application process easier or working with counselors and education leaders to help students navigate our systems. If we can provide that relational aspect, the students will come and shine.”