Research & Academics
NAU Flagstaff receives its first Hispanic Serving Institution grant: Meet the two women who made it happen
Campus & Community
For nursing grad, advocating for the Navajo Nation is her future
Nicole Pablo's first placement as a nursing student was at Tséhootsooí Medical Center in Fort Defiance at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was unimaginably difficult but, motivated by commitment to her community, she kept working, treating people hospitalized with the virus and later giving vaccinations. She returned to Fort Defiance for her preceptorship and now, as she graduates, she plans to continue serving and advocating for her community on the Navajo Nation. At each step of the way, Pablo pushed forward, motivated by two important people who will be with her in spirit when she crosses the stage at commencement. 
Views from NAU
The Anthropology of Star Trek: Boldly taking undergraduates where no one has gone before
Star Trek: Voyager's Commander Chakotay was the first Native American scientist Justin Lund saw on TV. It presented to him an option he'd never considered. Today he's an Indigenous anthropologist and teaching a course that uses Star Trek to study how present-day and past concerns of society and science are presented to public audiences. Campus & Community
Mother, teacher and non-traditional student finds passion in special education
Lorie Lee never imagined she’d make it to university; she is now graduating with two degrees and having won a prestigious President’s Prize. Mother of three and a non-traditional student, her inspiring tale begins earlier than her first day at NAU. As a child, Lee experienced poverty, a mother with substance abuse issues and a father unwilling to care for her. Through the support of her friends and teachers, Lee found a love and passion for education and began to excel academically. Behind most successes are stories of perseverance that often go untold. Married and raising three children with special needs Lee went to university and attained a bachelor's degree in elementary education and special education. 
New program pairs students with alumni mentors, helping them thrive in their future careers
Madi Kimball knew she wanted a career in film but had no idea where to begin. Through the Lumberjacks Thrive Externship Program, she was paired with alumnus Bill Harper, a graduate of NAU’s theatre program who now is a Hollywood producer and screenwriter. After months of virtually meeting with Harper, donations and funds from the NAU Foundation paid for a trip for Kimball to visit her mentor and shadow him on set. There, she networked with professionals in the industry, toured studios and sat in on a writer’s room. “It was genuinely the best weekend ever, and I know that when I go back to Hollywood to start my career, I’ll have this program and my mentor to thank for my success,” she said. 
Engineering an escape (room)
Figuring out how to get out of an escape room can be stressful. Now imagine your challenge isn't to get out of the escape room—it's to build an escape room, troubleshoot it and then make fixes on the fly when things break as people move through them. That's what mechanical engineering student Valentin Gamez did alongside his compatriots in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. It was a great opportunity to put their engineering skills to good use as well as let the community have a good time. It also provided a rare opportunity for Gamez's family to come from California and experience the work he did. Gamez graduates next week and starts his new job at Gore in 2023. 
