“Letting Them Know They Are Part of the Family”: Developing Native American Alumni Engagement in Higher Education

ABSTRACT This article explores the creation of a Native alumni engagement network, position, and legacy at the University of South Dakota. Through archival review, contemporary research, and first person experience by the researchers, this article examines the significance of a position focused on Native alumni engagement and the need for higher education's investment in Native alumni's triumphs, challenges, and contributions. By investing in alumni engagement, institutions also invest in Native student recruitment, persistence, retention, and mentorship.