UO doctoral student receives Spencer Foundation Fellowship

University of Oregon doctoral student Leilani Sabzalian was pleasantly surprised when she discovered she was one of 30 students from a pool of more than 400 to receive a 2014 Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship for her field study of an urban Native American education program in Oregon.

The aim of Spencer fellowships is to encourage a new generation of scholars to pursue research with a goal of improving education. They are considered highly competitive and among the most prestigious in the field of education.

A review panel made up of education scholars from around the world selects the recipients of the $25,000 fellowships. Sabzalian’s award letter says her selection “is a strong expression of the organizations’ confidence in your potential contribution to the history, theory, or practice of education.”

The programs Sabzalian studies help Native American students in Oregon through education strategies that address their cultural and academic needs. Her dissertation hopes to identify things educators should understand to best work with indigenous students and families.

“My research is a part of my overall goal to think through how to better serve Native students and families in urban areas – something deeply personal as I have two young Native sons in school,” Sabzalian said. “In the long-term, I hope this project can help reframe how we think of Native students and families – as sources of knowledge, insight and experience that can add value to their school, community and the field of teacher education.”

Sabzalian is an academic adviser for the UO Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence and a Native American student retention specialist. She is part of the UO Critical and Sociocultural Studies in Education program and has served as a special education teacher and project teacher, an educational consultant in the Peace Corps and as the Native youth group coordinator for the Springfield School District.  

Although it’s her job to support Native American students on campus, Sabzalian feels grateful that they have supported and encouraged her just as much, particularly those in the Native American Student Union.

“Like many non-traditional students, balancing my research, work, community and family responsibilities can be difficult. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and for all of the people who have supported me in making it this far, especially some of the current NASU students,” Sabzalian said.

Sabzalian is a part of the Many Nations Longhouse family at the UO and has worked to connect her local Native youth group with the Native community on campus. Her work focuses on equity in education with an emphasis on culture-based education for indigenous students.

“I hope a student reads this and might be more inclined to apply for that scholarship or fellowship they can’t really imagine receiving, because you never know what will happen,” Sabzalian said.

―By Katherine Cook, UO Public Affairs Communications intern