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Chapter Leader Newsletter
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Native and Indigenous Alumni Chapter Spotlight, Town Hall Recap, Alumni Census and More!
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Native and Indigenous Alumni
Chapter Leader Spotlight
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Shaina Philpot ’09, Ed.D.
Native American Studies
she/her/hers
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 | Shaina Philpot ’09, Ed.D., co-chair of the Native and Indigenous Alumni Chapter
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Shaina Philpot ’09, Ed.D. is from California and is an enrolled tribal member of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Native American Studies from UC Berkeley, her first Master’s Degree in Public History with a subspecialty of Native American History from UC Riverside, and her second Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Southern California. Dr. Philpot recently graduated with her Educational Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Leadership in Higher Education from National University. Her research centers on American Indian students’ sense of belonging in higher education, specifically comparing American Indian students’ sense of belonging between predominantly White institutions (PWIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). Dr. Philpot has spent many years in various roles in the field of education, including working on reservations and with tribal communities. She currently serves as an Associate Director of Native American Student Success and Acting Associate Director of TRIO Student Support Services at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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 | Shaina Philpot ’09, Ed.D. at her UC Berkeley Native American Studies graduation in May 2009, with older sister Brittney Wright (left) and younger sister Meghan Villalobos (right).
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What was your undergraduate life like at Cal? I was actively involved in the Native and Indigenous student groups on campus, then known as the Native American Recruitment and Retention Center and the Native American Advisory Council. I was also the first Native American Resident Assistant (RA) for what was then the pilot program of the Native American Theme Program in the residence halls. After my year as RA, it officially became a theme program that is still standing today! I also loved attending Cal football games! GO BEARS!
What advice would you give your undergraduate self? You will face challenges, but always remember that you are loved, you are worthy, you are enough, and you can do anything you set your mind to. My mantra is, “You are a badass!”
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Shaina Philpot ’09, Ed.D. at a book launch party in Washington D.C. for her book chapter, January 2023.
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What life lessons did you learn at Cal that still impact your daily life? I learned the importance of giving back to my community. I was also inspired by Bridget Neconie ’94 (Pueblo of Acoma), and because of her, I knew I wanted to support Native and Indigenous students in higher education as my career.
What are some current projects you are working on? I recently finished my dissertation and am now presenting my research at conferences. My dissertation is titled, “A Quantitative Correlational/Causal-Comparative Study of American Indian Students' Sense of Belonging at Predominantly White Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities.” I presented at the National Indian Education Association conference in Albuquerque in October 2023. I published another chapter discussing online education for Indigenous students in Motivation and Momentum in Adult Online Education. I also recently published my story of belonging and surviving domestic abuse as a chapter in the Amazon bestselling book, Deserts to Mountaintops: Our Collective Journey to (re)Claiming Our Voice by New York Times Bestselling Author Jessica Buchanan.
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Shaina Philpot ’09, Ed.D. visiting campus for the first time after living in Japan for 3 years and moving back to the U.S., September 29, 2018.
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How do you tap into your Cal Alumni network? When I graduated I immediately became a CAA lifetime member. I have always been proud to be a Golden Bear! I knew I wanted to connect with other Native and Indigenous alumni, and when I found out about the Native and Indigenous Alumni Chapter, I knew that was my opportunity to be involved.
Talk about your involvement in your Cal Alumni Chapter, why you joined and why you continue to contribute. I am the co-chair of the Native and Indigenous Alumni Chapter. I joined because my time at Cal shaped who I am today and I couldn't be more proud of my alma mater. I want to give back to the institution that gave so much to me. Cal fostered my involvement with Native student groups in higher education and instilled the importance of giving back to my community.
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Shaina Philpot ’09, Ed.D. in a shirt that says “Native American Student Success” and ribbon skirt she made at University of Minnesota, Morris.
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What is something that you’ve learned from being involved with your alumni chapter? I have learned that our alumni are amazing! Our alumni want to be connected to current students and mentor them. Our alumni host events and meetings throughout the year and offer opportunities to be involved.
What else should we know about you? Any additional information about yourself you would like to add? I am currently working my dream job as an Associate Director of Native American Student Success and Acting Associate Director of TRIO Student Support Services at the University of Minnesota, Morris. I get to support Native and Indigenous students daily, which has always been my dream!
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What's New with the Alumni Chapters Department?
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Recap: November Town Hall
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|  | Alumni Chapter Leaders at November 16, 2023 Town Hall
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Thank you for registering to attend our November Alumni Leader Town Hall. If you missed it, please find the recording and slide deck below and please continue the conversation on 360Alumni! We reviewed the changes to the Alumni Chapter Manual, the annual renewal process (formerly known as the annual report), and extra support we’re providing for the annual renewal process.
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The UC Rally Committee marches through the UC Berkeley campus. / Courtesy of Keegan Houser
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Introducing the UC Rally Committee Alumni Chapter
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Vice President Eric Manzo ’21 (center) with other members of the new chapter. / Courtesy of UC Rally Committee Alumni Chapter
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The Cal Alumni Association is pleased to announce the formation of the UC Rally Committee Alumni Chapter.
Founded in 1901, the UC Rally Committee (UCRC), commonly referred to as Rally Comm, has a long and proud tradition of promoting school spirit and fostering community among Cal students. For generations, the UC Rally Committee has played a vital role in supporting Cal athletics, organizing rallies and events, and promoting the values of leadership and service on campus. This year, the UC Rally Committee created a UC Rally Committee Alumni Chapter.
The UC Rally Committee provides many opportunities for its members, including cheering for the Golden Bears, learning about the University’s captivating past, and organizing some of the biggest events on campus, like the Bonfire Rally. The UC Rally Committee is also responsible for the university’s school spirit symbols, including the Cal Flags, the California Banner, the California Victory Cannon, the Card Stunts, and The Axe, when it is in Cal’s possession.
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What Else is Going on at Cal?
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Courtesy of Cal Athletics.
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UC Berkeley Alumni Census
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Add your voice to the UC Berkeley Alumni Census by Dec. 31, 2023. For the first time in 10 years, Cal is reaching out to all alumni to invite their thoughtful insights as to what it means to be a Golden Bear and how your Berkeley degree features within your alumni identity.
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UC Berkeley Alumni Virtual Book Club
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UC Berkeley is excited to offer a complimentary virtual engagement for Cal alumni! The Berkeley Alumni Virtual Book Club is a free, fully online opportunity for the Berkeley alumni community to expand their intellectual horizons and connect back to Cal no matter your age, industry, or geographic location.
The first selection is the New York Times best-seller The Boys in the Boat, authored by Berkeley alum Daniel James Brown '74. Enrollment is open now with the first reading period ending on Dec. 15.
The next book for January – March 2024 is The Mountains Sing: A Novel by Nguyen Phan Que Mai. We hope for a highly involved community of Berkeley book lovers!
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Berkeley Career Engagement
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| Be an Alumni Host for Cal Job Shadow Program!
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Co-Sponsored by the Cal Alumni Association and Berkeley Career Engagement, the Cal Job Shadow Program (formerly Externship) is a unique opportunity for students to experience life after UC Berkeley. Over Spring Break (March 25 – 29, 2024), students shadow alumni at their workplaces–observing day to day activities, meeting colleagues, conducting informational interviews, or completing small sample projects.
If you’d like to give back to Cal students and be an alumni host, join our program! Although the deadline has passed for alumni applications, we are still accepting requests to sign up for the Cal Job Shadow Program on Berkeley Career Network.
For questions, email careernetwork@berkeley.edu.
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What Else Is Going on at CAA?
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Year-Round Cabins at Camp Oski
Winter at the Lair! Enjoy a family getaway weekend to Pinecrest, CA. We have openings in 3-day weekends ahead including New Year's, MLK, and President's Day. Winter stays include linens, meals, and some Lair fun too! Dodge Ridge Ski Resort is just 2 miles away, so bring your snow gear and book your stay with us today!
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New Camper Discount & Information Session
The Lair of the Golden Bear is home to thousands of Cal Bears and their families each summer, and is a vacation the whole family will enjoy. Connect with nature, family, friends, and fellow Bears in a beautiful setting in Pinecrest, just three hours from the Bay Area. Kids will enjoy programs that let their parents have some “me” time, which could mean playing pickleball or relaxing by the pool. Come experience the new year-round cabins that come with a private bathroom and heat.
New campers and those who haven't camped since 2019, receive a 15% discount for Week 2 (June 15 - 21) and Week 10 (Aug 10 - 16).
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Berkeley Talks: Poulomi Saha on why we're so obsessed with cults
In Berkeley Talks, a Berkeley News podcast, Poulomi Saha, an associate professor in the Department of English and co-director of the Program in Critical Theory at UC Berkeley, discusses how cult culture, once a fringe phenomenon, has moved into the mainstream — and what that tells us about what we long for, what we fear and who we hope to be.
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Quick Links
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Cal Alumni Association
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Phone: 888.CAL.ALUM | Fax: 510.642.6252
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