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Samantha Eldridge (Diné)

Director, American Indian Resource Center

FDAIRC (Bldg 622)
801-581-7019
samantha.eldridge@utah.edu

Samantha Eldridge (Diné)

she/her

Director, American Indian Resource Center

Samantha (she/her) is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She has over 10 years of experience in local, state and tribal government and academia. Her career in public service began at the State of Utah Office of Multicultural Affairs. In 2014, Samantha relocated to Washington, D.C. to serve as the senior advisor to American Indian/Alaska Native outreach at the National Education Association. She was then appointed as a policy analyst to serve on the executive staff for the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President. While in D.C. Samantha advanced educational and social justice policies and practices increasing equity, access, and opportunities for Indigenous youth.

In 2019, Samantha returned to Salt Lake City to pursue a PhD in political science. Samantha’s research focuses on the historical and institutional structures that create inequitable policies, practices, and barriers that impede the success of Indigenous communities; particularly, in matters of public administration, representation, and governance.

Samantha currently serves on the Salt Lake City Commission on Racial Equity in Policing. She is a former board of director for Racially Just Utah and National Indian Education Association; and graduate of the Women’s Leadership Institute. Samantha’s prior teaching experience includes serving as a faculty member for the AT&T Center for Indigenous Politics at The George Washington University and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah.

Samantha is a past recipient of the University of Utah Equity and Diversity award and 2021 recipient of the Student Affairs Diversity Committee Pursuit of Inclusion award. Samantha received a B.A. in Sociology and M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Utah.