The center, which is nicknamed The Nest, is calling the event “Miiyu: Where Story Lives.” It will take place on Tuesday, March 17 from noon to 2 p.m. in USU 3400.

The open house will offer the campus community a chance to visit the center, learn more about its role in supporting American Indian and Alaska Native students, and recognize the many partnerships and collaborations that contributed to bringing the space to life. The Nest, which opened last fall under assistant director Tommy Devers, serves as a place of connection, cultural grounding, mentorship and community for American Indian students at CSUSM.

The program will begin with a blessing, followed by brief remarks from campus leaders and community partners, and the unveiling of a new mural created by American Indian studies professor Eric Tippeconnic (Comanche) and Lanise Luna (Kuupangaxwichem/Mescalero Apache). The mural reflects the living stories, histories and futures carried by American Indian students and communities connected to the university.

Following the unveiling, guests are invited to stay for a reception and an opportunity to connect with colleagues, students and community members.

Anyone planning to attend is asked to RSVP at this link.

Media Contact

Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist
bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

That fall, Proudfit taught a course called “Native American Communities.” It was a small class, featuring only about a dozen students. One of them stood out immediately.

Proudfit had known the family of Tommy Devers for years. They are both Luiseño Indians, and Tommy’s uncle is Chris Devers, the former chairman of the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians, who has deep ties to CSUSM. But that didn’t prepare her for what she would encounter in Tommy.

“I noticed his commitment and curiosity right away, but what struck me more deeply was the way he carried himself in service to his community,” Proudfit said. “His hands were always in the work. He showed up for his people with a sincerity that you cannot teach.

“There is simply a light to him. My husband used to joke that Tommy should be the mayor of whatever town he happened to live in because he is just that kind of person: engaged, grounded, generous and easy to gravitate toward.”

After graduating from CSUSM with a degree in communication in 2009, Devers went on to complete a master’s program in sociological practice, bolstering his connection to the university. During that time, he further immersed himself in Native studies, and even helped Proudfit move into the new California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center (CICSC).

About a year ago, then, when a job as the first leader of a planned American Indian Student Center became available, Proudfit had the ideal candidate in mind.

“Tommy,” she said, “was exactly the person we needed.”

And Devers was exactly the person CSUSM got. Hired as assistant director in February, the double alumnus spent his first semester observing and developing relationships with American Indian and other students while working out of an office near Proudfit in the CICSC. By late August, he had moved into his new office in the student center, which occupies a suite in the University Student Union that formerly housed the Cross-Cultural Center.

This fall, he has overseen five student employees while the American Indian Student Center welcomes in an average of about 20 students per day. Greeting them as they enter is an enormous, wall-sized mural painted by American Indian studies professor Eric Tippeconnic. To make the center more inviting, Devers and his team rebranded it as “The Nest,” both a nod to the center's logo of a feather and a nickname that rolls off the tongue more easily.

“This is going to become the nest where students come, they get nurtured, they grow and then they move on in their journey,” Devers said. “So it took on a more symbolic meaning as well.

“There's a lot of excitement from the students, and I think they have a strong desire to make this space their own. This is the foundational year. This is when we start being mindful of how we want the center to be, the legacy we want it to have.”

The Nest represents the fulfillment of a desire Proudfit has held almost from the day she first stepped foot on campus to give CSUSM’s American Indian students a place they could call their own. Out of necessity, they have congregated over the years at the CICSC on the first floor of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building.

A door opened a couple of years ago when Viridiana Diaz, CSUSM’s vice president for Student Affairs, formed an advisory committee led by lecturer John Tippeconnic, whose report affirmed the need for a dedicated center. The timing lined up perfectly with the availability of Devers, who had moved back to California after some time living out of state and was ready to return to higher education.

“He was raised for this kind of work,” Proudfit said. “He is thriving because the job aligns with his spirit, his community roots and his lived commitment to our students.”

Devers grew up on the Pauma reservation as the youngest of four children of a Luiseño father and Irish mother. He recalls an idyllic childhood marked not only by normal pursuits such as abundant outdoor play in the rural landscape but also by a stint as an actor.

As a fifth-grader, he attended a casting call, which led a trip to acting school, the hiring of an agent and, on his seventh audition, a role in the TV show “Power Rangers.” During middle school, he even moved to Los Angeles for a year with his mom to try acting full-time before concluding that the world of Hollywood was not for him.

The sense of adolescent adventure, however, didn’t come without some discomfort related to his identity.

“There's definitely some pain that came up because my mom is white and my dad is Indian,” Devers said. “Being half-white on the reservation, you're very aware of your situation at a young age.”

After being part of one of the first graduating classes at Valley Center High School, Devers went to Palomar College along with his brother and one of his two sisters. It was a rather aimless period for him. He explored being a photography major. He contemplated becoming an English teacher. He took a semester off to travel, and ultimately stayed at the college for almost four years.

“No one who I knew could explain to me what the next steps were,” he said.

Devers found direction when he transferred to CSUSM in 2007, and particularly the following year when Proudfit joined the faculty. The American Indian studies discipline hadn’t been created yet, but he took as many classes in that vein as he could. After he earned his bachelor’s degree, Proudfit helped him land a job with the U.S. Census Bureau, for which he leveraged his tribal relationships and cultural knowledge to help boost participation by Native peoples in the 2010 census.

The more Devers went down the path of connecting with his heritage, the farther he wanted to go. He began working for his tribe as a youth program coordinator. He came back to CSUSM to earn a master’s and resumed his leadership in the American Indian Student Alliance.

“I realized that education was changing my life in a way I never imagined,” Devers said. “The subjects I was learning about were changing the way I thought about things and approached ideas.”

Devers was in his second year of the master’s program when the CICSC opened in 2011. Proudfit remembers that it was Nov. 17, the same day she returned from maternity leave. While she was holding her 3-month-old daughter, Piper, Devers and an interior designer friend of Proudfit’s decorated the center in one day on a shoestring budget.

“We filled the space with photos of our students and tribal community members, and much of what they created that day still lives in the center now,” Proudfit said. “Tommy has been integral to the CICSC from day one. His labor, his vision, his spirit are all woven into the roots of that space, and I remain deeply grateful.”

Fourteen years later, now married with two young children, Devers is integral to a new space for American Indian students. Following a first year in the job aimed at establishing The Nest and making students feel at home, he plans to turn his focus to career pipelines and recruitment.

To that end, he’s the lead organizer for the 2026 edition of Dream the Impossible, a Native youth conference that has been held for nearly two decades and is returning to CSUSM in April. More than 500 Native middle and high school students will converge on campus for an event that will introduce them to Native professionals in various fields and tout the transformative power of higher education.

Devers knows a thing or two about that.

“I have such hope for what this university is becoming,” he said. “The knowledge and kinship that can be gained through American Indian studies, the CICSC, the American Indian Student Alliance and The Nest can have a massive impact in tribal communities. That's what excites me the most. We're developing students who will lead our tribal communities into a future rooted in sovereignty, accountability and cultural strength."

Media Contact

Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist

bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

CSUSM invites all members of the campus community to participate in the following events.  

Pow Wow Dance Workshops 

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 11, 18, 6-8 p.m., Serenity Circle 

Learn the history, meaning and movement of pow wow dancing in this interactive workshop led by Kiara Flores. Celebrate culture, community and tradition through dance. 

Chow on Deck: United in Service – A Celebration of Native American Veterans 

Tuesday, Nov. 4, noon, Epstein Family Veterans Center deck 

American Indian Student Center NAHM Kickoff Event 

Friday, Nov. 7, 5-8 p.m., USU Amphitheater 

CSUSM’s American Indian Student Center invites the campus community to celebrate the start of Native American Heritage Month. The evening will include traditional bird singing, pow wow dancing and storytelling along with food prepared by Chef Carmen of Island Smoke N’ Grill. 

CSUSM Second Annual Social Gathering 

Thursday, Nov. 20, 3-6:30 p.m., Mangrum Track & Field 

The event will feature traditional bird singers and dancers, along with local vendors showcasing Native art and jewelry. All are welcome to join in this celebration of community and culture. 

Note: Due to extenuating circumstances, the social gathering will not be held as scheduled on Nov. 20. It will be postponed until the spring or summer of 2026. For inquiries, you can email communityengagement@csusm.edu.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Goodblanket was nervous about checking out the CICSC. She didn’t know anyone on campus and was unsure about going inside. But she mustered the courage to open the door, and all of her anxiety disappeared as she was instantly welcomed.  

Little did she know that she was meeting mentors that day who would help her achieve the career she has today. Through intentional support from faculty and staff and inclusive spaces like the CICSC, CSUSM equips students to lead with identity, purpose and impact. 

“I was looking for that connection to my culture, and I found it on campus,” said Goodblanket, who received a bachelor’s degree in psychological science and a Master of Social Work at CSUSM. “I'm an out-of-state Native. My tribe is from Oklahoma, so I always am searching to reconnect with tribal communities and tribal culture.” 

Goodblanket, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, serves as an Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) court advocate for the Valley Center-based Indian Health Council, which provides health and wellness services for American Indian communities in north San Diego County. Any families involved in a child welfare case, such as a juvenile dependency proceeding, can rely on Goodblanket for support. 

"I work with moms and dads who are struggling with a variety of challenges," Goodblanket said. "One is substance abuse. My job is to support families in doing what they need to do to reunite with their kids if they’re not currently in a place to have them back. I also work with caregivers and family members who have taken placement of the children." 

Goodblanket’s cultural connection is at the heart of her advocacy. Under the ICWA, child welfare agencies must prioritize placing American Indian children with relatives or within their tribal communities whenever possible.  

“Natives are still removed at a disproportionate rate by child welfare services,” Goodblanket said. "When children are disconnected from their culture, their long-term outcomes aren't as strong as those who remain connected. That’s why the cultural component is such a vital part of the work I do." 

As a student, Goodblanket participated in CSUSM’s inaugural “Beyond the Stereotype" campaign to raise awareness about cultural appropriation and the harm caused by stereotypes. Goodblanket and other students were featured on posters across campus that challenged common misconceptions about underrepresented groups. She emphasized the need to raise awareness about issues like missing and murdered Indigenous women and the harmful sexualization of Native women through stereotypes and costumes, which contribute to broader societal perceptions and injustice. 

"Maya demonstrates how education driven by purpose and cultural knowledge creates lasting change,” said Joely Proudfit, chair of the American Indian studies department and director of the CICSC. “CSUSM remains grateful for her transformative impact, particularly through her leadership in the award-winning 'Beyond the Stereotype' campaign, where she challenged cultural appropriation with authenticity and understanding.” 

Goodblanket didn’t expect the campaign to have such a large impact, and its widespread presence across campus was surprising but meaningful.  

"I think it was really important to take that stance and just stand up,” she said. “And I think that's what college is all about.” 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

There are many days when you feel like you're never good enough, never enough for the population that you’re around that particular day. 

Some days, I'm not Native enough because I'm not fully Native or because I don't speak my Native language. Other days, I’m not as Mexican as others if I’m not speaking Spanish consistently. Or it could be my lack of a certain tattoo to represent my Pacific Islander heritage. 

I’ve learned over time to switch between those identities – usually without even thinking about it – depending on the circle of people I’m with in that moment. It’s like a light switch that I can turn on and off as needed. 

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Emphasizing one of my identities over the others can also bring about self-doubt and sadness because I’m doing it to be accepted by the person or group I’m with in that moment. 

I’m grateful that my time at Cal State San Marcos has helped me navigate those challenges. 

My journey in higher education been a windy road, from starting at the University of Hawaii-Manoa as a marine biology major to earning three associate degrees at Grossmont College to now finishing my bachelor’s in psychological science this spring at CSUSM. 

It’s certainly not a traditional path, and there were many days that I worried about not living up to some imaginary timeline of how long it was supposed to take me to get my degree.  

Today, I can appreciate an untraditional journey that has taken six years to complete. And I’m especially thankful that this path led me to CSUSM. It’s here that I reconnected with my American Indian heritage while also having the opportunity to fully appreciate and explore my Guamanian and Mexican identities. 

I am a descendant of Navajo Nation, and my clan spans the four corners of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Most of my family lives in Arizona, including half on the reservation. I spent much of my childhood growing up in Arizona near my Native family. But I lost touch with much of that part of my identity as a teenager when we moved to San Diego. Even though Southern California is home to a significant Native population, it’s always different when you’re coming from a different place and not used to the customs or practices. 

While different tribes have many shared experiences, I'm also cognizant of being a guest here because this is not my traditional homeland. There’s a responsibility to show respect for where you are, respect for the land and knowing that this isn't mine personally or my ancestors’. It's about finding the proper balance. 

That’s something I’ve strived to do at CSUSM. When I came here, I didn’t even know the university offered an American Indian studies major. My first American Indian studies course came when I saw it being offered to fulfill an upper division general education requirement. I was fortunate that my professor, Lara Aase, encouraged me to visit the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center on campus. That led me to meeting Joely Proudfit, the center’s director and the department chair of American Indian studies, and learning about the American Indian Student Alliance (AISA). 

I’ve had the privilege over the past year of serving as president of AISA, which was honored by CSUSM’s Student Leadership & Involvement Center as the Student Organization of the Year for 2021-22. I also joined Associated Students, Inc., as the representative for diversity and inclusion. In this role, I’ve worked to ease racial tensions and create a space where dialogue and conversation can occur.  

It has been rewarding to see so many different organizations, both cultural and religious, come together. We know that we won’t resolve every issue or problem, but acknowledging that we see one another and recognize one another is a step in the right direction. We try to focus on how we can help and uplift each other. 

My multiculturalism has been a tremendous asset in this work. It’s allowed me to be an ally for so many groups on campus. As AISA president, I’ve encouraged members of our organization to embrace and learn about other cultural and religious groups on campus. And doing so doesn’t invalidate our identity, it’s simply making space for others to also be recognized and seen, something that so many groups are fighting for on campus. 

One of the biggest opportunities we have is to continue fostering an environment where all groups have space to grow and be recognized. 

It’s something that’s a big part of where I am at now, too, as a person. I’ve learned through my higher education journey the importance of communicating your thoughts because, ultimately, we’re all trying to advocate for ourselves. And that’s an important lesson for everyone, because if you don't advocate for yourself, no one else is going to do it for you.  

Self-advocacy is a skill that takes practice, to be sure. But once learned, it allows you to better express your concerns, helps people hear you in a non-adversarial way and makes them more inclined to listen. And that's what will bring about that change that we all want to see. 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

The 2016 document builds on past reports, released in 2012 and 2014, which document the gaps in education for AI/ANs in California, and the promising practices taking place at California universities to help bridge some of these gaps.

Funded by a generous donation of $500,000 from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the report compiles publicly available data to provide information about AI/ANs in the K-12, California State University and University of California systems. The data includes enrollment and graduation rates, dropout rates, number of degrees conferred and number of personnel by race/ethnicity. The information contained in the report is particularly valuable given that California has the largest AI/AN population of any other state in the U.S. and, historically, AI/AN students drop out of high school at higher rates than their peers.

“For American Indian people in particular, the need for education to sustain the milestones and achievements that our tribal ancestors and leaders have worked so hard to build is paramount,” said Joely Proudfit, director of the CICSC. “This report provides a case study for the creation of a 21st century model to recruit, retain, serve and graduate American Indian students from a public university.”

AI/AN High School Graduation Rate in Decline Since 2010

The report indicates that the high school graduation rate for AI/AN students has decreased by nearly 11 percent since 2010, from 3,169 students to 2,830. Although 1.4 percent more students in the 2014 cohort of AI/AN graduates met the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) requirements for college entry, they were still well below their peers: 21.8 percent below White students, 5.5 percent below Hispanic/Latino students and 4.3 percent below African American students.

“The data continues to show that the educational pipeline for AI/AN students is leaking; we are losing our kids along the way,” said Proudfit. “Not only are we graduating fewer AI/AN students, but these students are also lagging behind other groups in terms of college readiness.”

AI/AN Enrollments Rebound at California Community Colleges and Decline at California State Universities

According to the report, there have been declines and slight rebounds in AI/AN enrollments in post-secondary education since 2011.

The enrollment rate for AI/AN at community colleges has increased by 1,037 students in the past four years—a higher pace than both the UC and CSU systems. But while enrollment growth is increasing, data shows that the majority of AI/AN community college students are not continuing on an academic trajectory toward a four-year degree.

The CSU system enrolled more AI/AN First-Time Freshman (FTF) than the UC system eight out of the last 12 years. However, beginning in 2008, the UC AI/AN enrollment of first-time freshman began to increase over the CSU. At that point CSU AI/AN enrollment of FTF declined by 50 percent a year for six years, while UC enrollment increased by 20 percent over the same time period.

The CICSC research team strongly believes that an important factor impacting the data tracking AI/AN FTF and transfer student enrollment has to do with the reporting requirements from the Department of Education in regard to racial/ethnic identification.

“We detail this dilemma in the report,” said Proudfit. “The issue has to do with the way that Hispanic/Latino data rises to the top of reporting requirements or the way that mixed-heritage individuals are placed in the default category of ‘Two or More Races.’ What we believe is happening and reflected in the plateau for AI/AN enrollments is that it is really a false decline in this ‘Single Race’ category because we know that many AI/AN people have multiple heritages, but politically and culturally identify as AI/AN. Given the unique political distinction of AI/AN people it seems logical and necessary that changes to these data reporting policies be made because our numbers are not insignificant and every one of our students identifying as AI/AN should be counted on their own and then in conjunction with one or more races if that is what is reported.”

CSUSM’s Commitment to Native American Students and Tribal Communities

CSUSM has made enormous strides in educational equity in Southern California and has become an intellectual home for many marginalized and underserved groups. For the third year in a row, CSUSM has hit a record-breaking number of American Indian students enrolling for the fall semester.

In fall 2015 the newly formed American Indian Studies (AIS) department completed a five-year academic strategic plan. The mission of the AIS Department is to provide students with a research, community, and place-based program of study through an integrated approach to understanding tribal knowledge. Students in AIS learn to work effectively with and for Original Nations and tribal communities as they interface with non-Indian communities to exercise tribal sovereignty.

“This is not the end of our work and research on the state of American Indian education in California, but merely a new starting point for our journey forward together,” said Proudfit.

For more information, download the report online.

American Indian Heritage Month Kick-Off: Celebration of Song and Dance

Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University Student Union

Enjoy a performance by bird singers, drummers and dancers and wear your green Civility T-shirt or learn how to earn your own!

Open House at the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center

Friday, Nov. 7 from noon to 1 p.m. in SBSB 1118

The California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center (CICSC) is a welcoming place for students, faculty, staff and members of all tribal communities. Come out and meet the students and staff of the center, the first of its kind in the state of California, focused on serving the unique needs of American Indian students by conducting original research and preserving the cultural heritage and languages of tribal communities.

American Indian Myth Busters: Ask an American Indian Day

Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center - SBSB 118

Second Annual San Diego American Indian Film Festival

Thursday, Nov. 20 – Saturday, Nov. 22

The San Diego American Indian Film Festival (SDAIFF) is offering audiences in San Diego County the finest work in American Indian film and media on an annual basis. The SDAIFF will highlight the best of current films from American Indian filmmakers, producers, directors, and actors working through Indian Country.

Watch the SDAIFF's promotion reel below and then visit the official website or Facebook page, for more information and tickets.