Meet the Staff

Dr. Charlotte E. Davidson

Director

Dr. Charlotte E. Davidson
(pronouns: she/her/hers)
Diné/Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation

Dr. Charlotte E. Davidson is Diné and a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes. She is the daughter of Nora (Yazzie) Wilkinson and the late Wilbur D. Wilkinson, Sr. Her maternal grandparents are Sally (Manygoats) Yazzie and Kee Horseherder-Yazzie. Her paternal grandparents are Molly (Wolf) Wilkinson and Ernest P. Wilkinson. Concerning kinship relations, she is of the Tó'aheedlíinii (Water Flows Together People), born for the Waterbuster People. Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Kinłichíi’nii (Red House People), and her paternal grandfather is the Flint Knife clan.

She earned her B.A. degree in American Indian Studies from Haskell Indian Nations University, followed by both an M.Ed degree and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As Director of the Native American House at Illinois, she provides visionary leadership that fosters meaningful partnerships across academic institutions, tribal communities, and organizations. Her work informs national best practices and advances student success through culturally grounded, community-centered approaches.

Dr. Davidson presents nationally on Indigenous higher education, matrilineal pedagogies, and place-based relationalities. She has written and co-authored chapters in several influential texts, including Beyond the Asterisk: Understanding Native Students in Higher Education, Indigenous Leadership in Higher Education, Reclaiming Indigenous Research in Higher Education, A Better Future: The Role of Higher Education for Displaced and Marginalised People, Indigenous Motherhood in the Academy, and Developments Beyond the Asterisk: New Scholarship and Frameworks for Understanding Native Students in Higher Education.

Dr. Davidson is the recipient of the 2025 Student Affairs Outstanding New Staff Award and the 2025 Student Affairs Inclusive Excellence Staff Award. She has also designed and led two programs recognized by Student Affairs: the Native American House Ambassador Program, which received the 2025 Outstanding Program Social Justice Award, and the Indigenous Modality Making Collective, honored with the 2024 Student Affairs Outstanding Assessment Program Award. She was recently recognized as a 2026 NASPA Pillar of the Profession, an honor that recognizes distinguished leaders in student affairs who exemplify enduring professional excellence and meaningful service contributions, including engagement in knowledge creation.

University Service

  • Member, Women's Resources Center Advisory Committee, Student Affairs (2025-present)
  • Member, Well-Being Collective Steering Committee, Student Affairs (2024-present)
  • Ex-officio, Native American House Advisory Circle, Student Affairs (2023-present)
  • Member, Student Affairs Assessment Committee, Student Affairs (2023-present)
  • Member, Special Populations Faculty and Staff Advisory Committee, McKinley Health Center, Student Affairs (2022-present)

External Service

  • National Co-Chair Elect, Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community, NASPA (2026-present)
  • Administrators and Staff Section Co-Chair, Program Committee, Association for the Study of Higher Education (2026-present)
  • Reviewer, Scholarship Applications, Native Forward Scholars Fund (2026-present)
  • Member, Education Committee, Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative (2022-present)
  • Member, Native American Employment Plan Advisory Council, Department of Central Management Services, State of Illinois (2022-present)
  • Reviewer, Cobell Scholarship, Indigenous Education, Inc. (2015-present)

University Affiliations

  • Affiliate, Center for Indigenous Science, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
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Assistant Director

Morgan Bear, M.Ed.
(pronouns: she/her/hers)
Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi Tribe in Iowa (Meskwaki)

Morgan Bear is from Tama, Iowa, and grew up within the Meskwaki Settlement, the only federally recognized tribe in the state of Iowa. Her lived experiences contribute greatly to who she is today; in her words, “my culture comes with me everywhere I go.”

As a first-generation, low-income student, Morgan is familiar with the sacrifices, barriers, and challenges of pursuing higher education goals. Her academic path began in her tribe’s K–12 education system, followed by community college and then the University of Northern Iowa, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She went on to complete a Master of Education in Post-Secondary Student Affairs at Iowa State University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies at the University of Iowa.

Professionally, Morgan is passionate about closing degree gaps for Indigenous and Native American students in higher education. Since earning her master’s, she has worked with TRIO Student Support Services, a program especially meaningful to her as a TRIO alumna. Grateful for the support TRIO provided her as a student, she now looks forward to bringing her experience, passion, and commitment to her new role at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Office Support Specialist

Nathan Girouard
(pronouns: he/him/his)

Nathan Girouard is a lifelong resident of the Champaign-Urbana area. He grew up attending Illinois football games and loving the Orange and Blue through and through.

As a first-generation college student, Nathan began his academic journey at Parkland College before transferring to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History.

For nearly six years, Nathan has worked in community services, supporting individuals experiencing significant personal and social challenges, including members of the University of Illinois community. He brings a strong commitment to service, relationship building, and community engagement to his role at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.