Deborah Jackson-Dennison has been named the next president of Diné College in Tsaile, Arizona. Her presidency will begin on March 2.
According to the most recent federal data, Diné College enrolls about 1,800 undergraduate students, 71 percent of whom are women.
“Dr. Jackson-Dennison’s deep commitment to culturally responsive education, inclusive governance, and thoughtful financial stewardship aligns strongly with the College’s mission to serve the Diné Nation and surrounding communities,” said the college’s board of regents. “We look forward to working collaboratively with her as we advance student success and institutional sustainability.”
An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation (Diné), Dr. Jackson-Dennison has nearly four decades of experience in educational leadership. Most recently, she was chief executive officer of Indigenous Ingenuity, LLC, where she supported clients across Arizona and New Mexico in strengthening governance, policy, and academic systems. Earlier, she spent 21 years as a superintendent in Arizona public schools. As a scholar, Dr. Jackson-Dennison studies the Diné philosophy of lifelong learning and its application within contemporary education systems as a pathway to sovereignty and nation-building.
An alumna of Diné College, Dr. Jackson-Dennison holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of New Mexico and both a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies and a doctorate from Arizona State University.