Cookies and Conversations with Dr. Chance White Eyes

Chance White Eyes

Director of Tribal Relations

Oregon State University

In 2023, Dr. Chance White Eyes (Alumnus, class of 2007) returned to Oregon State University (OSU) as Director of Tribal Relations in the Government Relations Office. The focus of his work is to support tribal sovereignty and strengthen the relationships between OSU and tribal communities.



Dr. White Eyes brings over a decade of experience liaising between Indigenous communities and universities. During his early career, Dr. White Eyes served as the Native American Recruitment Specialist at the University of Oregon, where we worked in multiple capacities. Not only did he mentor and build trust with tribal youth and their families, but also worked with tribal governments on issues about academic success for Native youth.



While pursuing his doctoral degree, in Critical and Socio-Cultural Studies in Education at the University of Oregon, Dr. White Eyes was appointed to the position of Native American Retention Specialist in the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence. After that appointment expired, Dr. White Eyes was selected to assist the University of Oregon’s first formal Assistant Vice President and Advisor to the President on Sovereignty and Government to Government Relations. In that role, he worked to further strengthen the University’s relationship with the tribes of Oregon and the region.



Before returning to OSU, Dr. White Eyes was an Assistant Professor of Native American Studies at Southern Oregon University, where he served as Program Chair of Native American Studies. There, he collaborated on numerous projects involving students/faculty/staff, and official tribal representatives. His approach to teaching was transdisciplinary, as he taught across departments and contexts. Not only did he teach courses in Native American Studies, but he also taught courses in the following programs and departments: Education, International Studies, English, Ethnic and Racial Studies, and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.



Dr. White Eyes is excited to return to OSU and looks forward to further collaborating across departments, campuses, and communities!