Meet the Team
Dr. Jenny Lee
Dr. Jenny J. Lee is a Professor for the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Arizona. She served as the Principal Investigator of the three-year Helios Foundation grant. She was formerly the Director of Project SOAR from 2004-2010 and co-founder (with Dr. Amanda Tachine) of Native SOAR in 2005. She has previously taught and researched issues related college access, service-learning, and college student experiences.
Native SOAR Faculty Advisor and Co-Founder | jennylee@email.arizona.edu
Karen Francis-begay
amanda cheromiah
Native SOAR Interim Director | kfbegay@email.arizona.edu | Tribe: Navajo
Amanda Cheromiah is a Ph.D. student in Higher Education at the University of Arizona. She has served as Native SOAR's instructor for nearly four years. When she was an undergraduate, for two years she also served as a mentor. Amanda integrates digital storytelling, photography and creative teaching techniques to engage and empower students on all levels of the educational pipeline. Amanda's intended dissertation research will focus on using digital storytelling as a cutting edge method to describe the experience of Native American students who attend large, public institutions across the United States.
Native SOAR Instructor | acheromi@email.arizona.edu | Tribe: Pueblo of Laguna
Karen Francis-Begay's is the Assistant Vice President for Tribal Relations at the University of Arizona. Her primary role is to serve as a key representative and liaison between tribal leaders and the University in efforts to strengthen partnerships and advance mutual goals. Karen has devoted her career to advancing educational access and success for Native American students and to fostering relationships with tribal communities and institutions of higher education. Karen has a bachelor of science in public administration, a master of arts in American Indian studies, and is pursuing a PhD in higher education administration at the University of Arizona.
