Harvard University Native American Program

People

Shelly C. Lowe, Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Shelly C. Lowe is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She is Bilagaana, born for Náneesht'ézhí Tách'iinii. Her paternal grandfather's clan is Tábaha. She grew up in Ganada, AZ on the Navajo Reservation.

Shelly has most recently held the position of Assistant Dean for Native American Affairs in the Yale College Deans Office and Director of the Native American Cultural Center at Yale University. Prior to her position at Yale, she spent six years as the Graduate Education Program Facilitator for the American Indian Studies Programs at The University of Arizona. During her time at the University of Arizona she was actively involved in the Native American Student Affairs Office and the American Indian Alumni club.

Ms. Lowe has served on the board of the National Indian Education Association and as a Board of Trustee for the National Museum of the American Indian. She has presented and published in the field of American Indian higher education and is currently completing her doctorate in Higher Education with a focus on American Indian student success and services

Dennis Norman, Faculty Chair
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr. Dennis Norman has served as Faculty Chair of the Harvard University Native American Program since 2005. He is the chair for the Harvard University Native American Program and Health Initiative and teaches field research for Native communities at the Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His background is in clinical psychology with a special interest in culturally appropriate health care services. Dr. Norman is board certified in clinical and child and adolescent psychology. He received his doctorate in human development (cross cultural psychology), counselling, and consulting psychology from Harvard University and also has an MA in child development from Tufts University. Dr. Norman has been the Chief of Psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital since 1989. His research interests include personality structure and functioning, psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness and trauma, and intellectual and neuropsychological correlates of ADHD and provision of culturally appropriate health care services. He is a past chair of the Board of Registration for Psychology, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Jason Packineau, Community Coordinator
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jason Packineau is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara) of North Dakota.  Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mr. Packineau is also from the Pueblo of Jemez and the Pueblo of Laguna.  Prior to joining the HUNAP office, Jason helped build the Student Development Program for Native American students enrolled at the University of New Mexico's Health Sciences Center.  During his time at the University of New Mexico he conducted outreach to tribal communities on behalf of the university and served as the Staff Advisor for two graduate Native American student groups.  Mr. Packineau made the shift from K-12 education to higher education after spending seven years in Washington, DC teaching public elementary school students and two years coaching/training new teachers as a staff member with the national organization, Teach For America.

Faculty Advisory Board

The Faculty Advisory Board was created to better assist HUNAP with its mission of teaching, research, outreach and community support. The Board is made up of Harvard faculty and staff who have experience in Native America in such fields as economic development, law, medicine and other current Native health issues.