Where Belonging Begins: Higher Education Students Lead the University's Native Student Program

In October 2022, after nearly 33 years at Syracuse University, Regina A. Jones ’07 retired as director of the University’s Native Student Program. She launched the program in 2006 along with Stephanie Waterman ’83, G’04, while simultaneously studying for a bachelor’s degree in child and family studies from the
Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

The program remains in good hands.

Bailey Tlachac G’23 recently took the reins as program coordinator, also while completing a master’s in the School of Education’s higher education program. Tlachac, Oneida Bear Clan from Wisconsin, previously served as the program’s graduate assistant, a role now filled by another higher education graduate student, Nicole Smoke ’17, G’24, Mohawk Wolf Clan from Akwesasne, on the New York-Ontario border. We sat down with Tlachac and Smoke to discuss their roles, the School of Education’s M.S. in higher education, and their experiences on campus as Native students.