Scott Langston, religion instructor and leader of Native American programs at TCU, has been appointed by Provost Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg to a newly created three-year position as liaison for Native American Nations and Communities.
“Scott is the perfect person to fill this inaugural role, which builds on the programs he has collaborated on, organized and led at TCU over the past five years,” said Provost Dahlberg. “Our ultimate goal is to fill the liaison position with a qualified Native American at the end of the three-year appointment.”
In his new position, Langston’s responsibilities will help build trust and develop mutually-beneficial, respectful and healthy partnerships between TCU and Native American nations and communities; educate the TCU campus regarding Native American nations, communities and perspectives by helping organize Native American-related programming; educate Native American communities about TCU to increase access to TCU’s offerings; assist faculty and staff with curriculum to enhance courses and programs with Native American-related content and initiatives in partnership with Native American nations and communities; and help build infrastructures to support Native American students, faculty, staff and alumni.
“One of the first things we will do is establish a Native American Advisory Circle comprised of Native Americans from within and outside of TCU,” Langston said. “The Council will consult with and advise the Liaison regarding positive ways of making Native Americans respected, supported and incorporated throughout TCU. This will be the first time in TCU's history that a formal space is created in TCU’s organizational structure specifically for Native American voices.”
For the past several years, Langston has collaborated with Native Americans and TCU faculty and staff to develop and lead Native American courses and programs, enabling TCU to be recognized as a model school for engaging Native American and Indigenous people on campus. Among those accomplishments are TCU’s annual campus-wide symposium to raise awareness about Native issues and build relationships with Native communities, with more than 1,000 participants nationally. In addition, TCU has declared the first Monday in October as Native American and Indigenous Peoples Day; added courses to highlight Native perspectives; created a Native and Indigenous Student Association with Langston as faculty advisor; developed TCU’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s scholarship; and dedicated a monument acknowledging the original inhabitants of the land where TCU now resides, especially the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.