The Humphrey School of Public Affairs is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot to its global policy faculty this fall. Lightfoot, a renowned expert in Indigenous rights and politics, will also hold the University of Minnesota’s Russell M. and Elizabeth M. Bennett Chair in Excellence in Public Affairs. She will have a joint appointment in American Indian Studies in the College of Liberal Arts.
Most recently, Lightfoot served as Canada Research Chair in Global Indigenous Rights and Politics at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the implementation of Indigenous rights, both globally and domestically.
“Dr. Lightfoot will bring extensive knowledge and experience to the Humphrey School, and I am excited that she is joining us,” said Dean Nisha Botchwey. “Her dedication to Indigenous communities and their empowerment is truly inspiring, and she will undoubtedly enrich our academic community.”
Lightfoot has served as president of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) and as vice chair and North American member of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP).
She is an alum of the Humphrey School, having earned her master’s degree in public policy in 1994. She then completed her PhD in political science from the University of Minnesota.
"We are thrilled and fortunate that Dr. Lightfoot has chosen to return to her home in Minnesota and to our community here at the University, especially since we know that she received multiple offers from other prestigious institutions in the US and Canada,” said Vicente Diaz, chair of the American Indian Studies department. “Her arrival is also timely for the seasoned experiences and skills that she will bring to our campus at such a crucial time of reckoning with American Indian and Indigenous communities."
Lightfoot is Anishinaabe and a citizen of the Lake Superior Band of Ojibwe, enrolled at the Keweenaw Bay Community in Baraga, Michigan. Her personal heritage further strengthens her commitment and understanding of the challenges and aspirations of Indigenous communities.
Prior to her academic career, Lightfoot gained valuable experience through 15 years of volunteer and contract work with various American Indian tribes and community-based organizations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. During this time, she served as the chair of the board of the American Indian Policy Center, a prominent research and advocacy group.
“Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Lightfoot,” Botchwey said. “Her expertise and contributions will further enhance our mission of fostering global understanding and addressing critical issues in public affairs.”
