Native American Support Program

“Rita Hodge is the Director of the Native American Support Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). In this position she is charged with the primary administrative operation of the Native American Support Program which includes staff supervision, program development, staff hiring/evaluation, and budget planning. She is an enrolled member of Dine` Nation and originally from Farmington, New Mexico. She demonstrates her commitment to preserving tribal traditions by working with individuals, communities, schools, and organizations to promote knowledge and understanding of Native history, education, languages, and the arts.”

“Carol Parks is NASP’s office support associate and has been the foundation of the program with a service of over twenty five years! Carol has established a working relationship with key personnel from other departments and is particularly knowledgeable about procedures and policies in regards to solving multilayered issues. Besides being the backbone of NASP, Carol maintains close relationships to current students and alumni that have since relied on her for advice and a smile.”

“Lawrence Curley (Aniishnabe/Dine) graduated with a bachelors of science in Earth Science (hydrogeology) from Northeastern Illinois University. He has successfully worked as a hydrogeologist for an environmental consultancy firm based in Boston MA. Lawrence continued to volunteer and contribute when his schedule allowed towards the advancement of Native American peoples. Lawrence has since committed full time to becoming a counselor to Native American students at UIC and a lifetime dedication to Native communities across North America.”