Overview:
The Bureau of Indian Education has appointed Dr. Alex Red Corn, an Osage Nation citizen and Indigenous education leader, as president of Haskell Indian Nations University following his tenure as interim president.
The Bureau of Indian Education has appointed Dr. Alex Red Corn, Ed.D., as president of Haskell Indian Nations University following his successful tenure as interim president through an Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement with the University of Kansas.
The appointment reflects the BIE’s emphasis on community-rooted leadership and its efforts to advance Haskell’s mission and future.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve Indian Country at this historic university that has meant so much to so many tribal communities,” said Red Corn. “Working closely with Haskell’s faculty, staff, and students has been extremely rewarding. I’ve witnessed first-hand the collaborative spirit across campus that will continue to guide our shared work as we serve our students and Indian Country.”
During his tenure as interim president, Red Corn helped shape Haskell’s strategic direction and establish systems designed to support continued institutional improvement. His leadership has focused on sovereignty, cultural integrity and student-centered decision-making.
The University of Kansas partnership allowed the BIE to bring Red Corn into a leadership role at Haskell, which will now transition into permanent service.
“Haskell’s future depends on strong leadership, and Dr. Red Corn brings the experience and community trust needed to guide the university forward,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Billy Kirkland. “Steady leadership at Haskell will help advance the Trump Administration’s priority of equipping students with marketable skills, expanding workforce pathways, and strengthening tribal sovereignty through education that builds capacity across Native communities.”
Red Corn, a citizen of the Osage Nation, is a nationally recognized leader in Indigenous education and academia. His work has focused on capacity building and cross-institutional collaboration.
His career includes serving as director and associate professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Kansas and associate vice chancellor for Sovereign Partnerships and Indigenous Initiatives. He also founded the Indigenous Educational Leadership Graduate Certificate program at Kansas State University, which is now offered through the University of Kansas.
Red Corn has worked with the Osage Nation on programs designed to increase graduate-level educational attainment. He has also served as executive director of the Kansas Association for Native American Education and chair of the Kansas Advisory Council for Indigenous Education.
As president, Red Corn will oversee efforts to strengthen student success, advance tribal sovereignty and maintain stable institutional leadership. His vision includes empowering tribal nations through education, capacity building and self-determination.
“Haskell is shaped by generations of Native students, families, and communities who have carried knowledge forward and imagined what comes next,” said Stephanie Conduff, associate deputy director for Postsecondary Education. “President Red Corn understands that responsibility, and he will help Haskell move forward with purpose as he leads the university in supporting the people who make it unique and preparing the way for future generations.”
The appointment marks a new chapter in Haskell Indian Nations University’s efforts to strengthen Indigenous higher education and community-driven leadership.
