The Bureau of Indian Education has announced that Alex Red Corn will serve as the next temporary president of Haskell Indian Nations University as the search to fill the position continues.
Red Corn, a citizen of the Osage Nation, “brings a wealth of experience in Indigenous education, leadership, and advocacy,” according to a Monday news release from the BIE.
Red Corn currently serves as director and associate professor of Indigenous Studies at KU, and as associate vice chancellor for sovereign partnerships and Indigenous initiatives.
“His career has been dedicated to advancing educational opportunities for Native students and building capacity within tribal communities,” according to the release.
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Red Corn holds a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and a graduate certificate in qualitative research methods from Kansas State University, along with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in social studies education from KU, according to the release.
“I’m motivated by this exciting opportunity to be in community with Haskell students, faculty and staff as we collectively continue the good work of enhancing student success and advancing tribal sovereignty in service to Indian Country,” Dr. Red Corn said in the release.
KU in October announced that with the support of a $1.5 million grant, a new project between KU and Haskell will advance tribal sovereignty in education by recruiting and training more than a dozen future teachers for roles in schools serving Native students. Red Corn is leading the project as principal investigator.
BIE Director Tony Dearman said in the release that Red Corn’s understanding of education and his longstanding commitment to Native students make him an ideal leader for Haskell.
“This partnership with the University of Kansas is a model for how we can strengthen institutions through collaboration and shared purpose, allowing us to bring in exceptional talent from within the community to lead Haskell during a pivotal time,” Dearman said in the release.
Mackie Moore, dean of Haskell’s College of Business, has served as interim president since the June 2025 resignation of Frank Arpan, who had announced his plans to leave Haskell that May.
Neither the BIE nor the university have announced a timeline to permanently fill the president position.
“During this period, Haskell Indian Nations University will continue its efforts to identify a permanent president to lead Haskell into the future, while maintaining continuity in leadership and operations,” according to the release.
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