University of Arizona proudly representing at the 2025 AISES Conference which centered the importance for Indigenous representation and resilience in higher education and STEM fields
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) held their annual conference on the lands of Lakota and Ojibwe peoples in Minneapolis, Minnesota from October 2 through October 4, 2025. This year’s conference was entitled “We are all Scientists”. This is a unique, three-day event focusing on educational, professional, and workforce development for Indigenous peoples of North American and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers. The conference is open to anyone who wishes to participate and learn. With over three thousand participants, including students, university faculty and staff, professionals, elders and community members, this event is unique not just because of its size and diverse programming but the supportive, encouraging and inclusive environment for Native American students, Indigenous scientists and allies.
The event featured numerous workshops and presentations, talking and beading circles, tours, mock interviews for students, as well as opportunities to visit with elders, and engage in cultural activities and events. The conference also includes the College and Career Fair (the largest of its kind) with over 300 exhibitors from tribal organizations, colleges and universities, and STEM-related companies looking to recruit Indigenous talent. As the University of Arizona continues to rank among the top 200 colleges for Indigenous students by AISES, several U of A programs exhibited, including University of Arizona Graduate Center, Mentorship and Education in Science for Tucson (MESCIT) with Society of Indigenous Physicists, and Agnese Nelms Haury Program with Office of Admissions - Undergraduate Recruitment and Tucson College of Medicine.
During the College and Career Fair, high school, undergraduate and graduate students got a chance to present their research by doing a poster or oral presentation, including several University of Arizona students. Masters Student Nieves Vazquez won the graduate poster award for her poster entitled “Relationality in Analysis: Science Communication in Soil and Water Quality Research for Resilient Communities”, and Gwen Flores won the undergraduate poster award for poster entitled “Mineral Formation Affecting Biosorption of Metal with Fungi for Bioremediation Applications”. Also competing was Jaria Callado. All three students mentioned here members of the University of Arizona Níhí Lab, which is led by Dr. Cherie De Vore. This group converges engineering, Indigenous knowledge, and environmental stewardship to imagine and implement solutions that restore balance, draw inspiration from the environment itself—its resilience, its adaptive systems, and its capacity for regeneration. “Congratulations to them!” said Dr. De Vore, “I am very happy and proud to see my students shine and thrive.”
Another University of Arizona student who competed and won was LaCher Pacheco. Pacheco's 20-minute presentation entitled "Wild Greens: Decolonialism, Relationality, and Spirits", earned a perfect score of 16/16 from volunteer judges, and was selected as one of the winners in the oral presentation category.
After intense three days, the conference concluded with a large awards banquet where University of Arizona’s own Dr. Cherie De Vore (Diné), Assistant Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, was named the 2025 AISES Most Promising Engineer/Scientist. “Dr. De Vore is the first Native American professor in the history of the University of Arizona’s School of Engineering. As assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering, she is principal investigator of the Níhí Biogeochemistry Environmental Engineering Laboratory, as well as core faculty member of the Indigenous Resileince Center,” wrote Dr. Karletta Chief, Director of University of Arizona Indigenous Resilience Center. “This is a huge accomplishment! Dr. De Vore is grounded and rooting in traditional knowledge systems in her engineering research, and this award is well deserved.” Dr. De Vore received a standing ovation as she went to the stage to receive the award.
For a full story, visit Haury Program website.