Austin College Lecture Addresses Academic Performance of Students

SHERMAN, TEXAS—Austin College will host Stephanie A. Fryberg as she presents the lecture “Culturally Grounded Interventions to Enhance Academic Performance for Native American and First-Generation College Students” Thursday, November 6, at 11 a.m. in Hoxie Thompson Auditorium of Sherman Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Fryberg is a member of the faculty at the University of Washington, where she serves as associate professor of American Indian studies and psychology. In 2007, she received the Society for the Psychological Study of Social issues Louise Kidder Early Career Award for substantial contributions to social issues research. She later received the University of Arizona Five Star Faculty Award for teaching excellence and in 2011, was named a member of the Multicultural Alumni Hall of Fame at Stanford University, where she earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in social psychology. Her research centers on how social representations of race, culture, and social class can have an impact on the development of self, psychological wellbeing, physical health, and educational attainment. Fryberg previously served as director of Cultural Competency, Learning Improvement, and Tulalip Community Development for the Marysville School District and associate professor of psychology and affiliate faculty in American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona. Fryberg’s visit is sponsored by the Austin College Mellon Grant. Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.