Greetings from the Native American Student Affairs (NASA) office at the University of Arizona (UA)! My name is Kyle Ethelbah, Program Director at NASA. I want to formally welcome you all to our Indigenous student community at the UA.  

A little about me: I am White Mountain Apache from the Fort Apache Indian reservation in central eastern Arizona. I am born to the ‘Dischiidn,’ an offshoot of the bear clan of the Western Apache. I obtained a bachelor’s degree in cultural and linguistic anthropology with a Spanish literature minor from the UA – I’m a Wildcat for life! I later received my master’s degree in public health from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

It is my hope that you take advantage of the many opportunities offered at the UA. Whether it be through NASA or any other area, your role in the broader education of our student community is key. I encourage you to make yourselves known to our NASA staff and to also get involved with your college departments and your Tucson community. You are making history as representatives of your indigenous communities – I look to you to teach me as I endeavor to ensure that your time here at UA is engaged and enlightening. 

Please review some of the awesome things we have going on and help us make this community the best it can be.  Also, stop in to say ‘hi’ and unwind between classes.  Let’s make this a memorable semester and a memorable part of wildcat history.

Sincerely, 

Kyle K. Ethelbah, MPH