IRes Director Karletta Chief Named Inaugural Haury Endowed Professor
Distinguished Diné Hydrologist and U of A Indigenous Resilience Center (IRes) Director Karletta Chief has been named the first Agnese Nelms Haury Endowed Professor in Indigenous Resilience. This new endowed professorship was established and announced earlier this month by IRes and the Agnese Nelms Haury Program to strengthen the University’s leadership in Indigenous environmental resilience.
Established through the vision and generosity of philanthropist Agnese Nelms Haury, who passed in 2014, the Haury Program supports initiatives addressing climate change and advancing Indigenous resilience. Toni Massaro, executive director of the Haury Program, stated that the endowed professorship represents the Program’s commitment to strengthening the U of A's capacity to recruit and retain global experts in Indigenous environmental resilience.
IRes was founded by Chief in 2021, partnering with Native communities to create sustainable environmental solutions, and has raised more than $28 million to advance this mission. As director of IRes, Chief has built transformative partnerships, secured research grants, and mentored the next generation of Indigenous scientists and leaders. This special recognition reflects Dr. Chief’s commitment to the values of relationship, respect, reciprocity, and responsibility in advancing environmental justice and climate adaptation.
The WRRC congratulates Karletta Chief on this well-deserved honor!