Nicholas Belle has been selected as the new director of IU-Bloomington’s First Nations Educational and Cultural Center, a division of the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs.
Belle succeeds Brian Gilley, who had served as director since 2010. Gilley renounced his position to concentrate on his duty as a faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Anthropology, according to an IU press release.
“I’m thrilled to have Nicky lead FNECC,” said Yolanda Treviño, assistant vice president of strategy, planning and assessment in a press release. “His background and impressive set of accomplishments make him an excellent match for the position.”
Belle received a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University and a master’s degree in anthropology from Florida State University, specializing in powwow culture, dance clothing and musical performance.
He received his Ph.D. in anthropology at IU, in part because of the American Indian Studies Research Institute’s educational focus on Lakota language and culture, according to a press release.
Belle earned his doctoral degree in anthropology from IU last month and started as director May 9.
As director of the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center, he is responsible for advancing the University’s strategic plan and commitment to the success of Native American and indigenous students by managing First Nations operations, projects, events and staff.
“With my connections in the powwow world, I tried to bring some of the bigger names I know here to IU,” Belle said in a press release. “I was also mindful of not just the social and community-building aspect of the powwow but the educational and learning impact. These cultural events are excellent teaching tools.”
Belle has been active in connecting members of native communities to IU. For example, during the past three years he has been collaborating with the First Nations center on Native student recruitment initiatives.
These initiatives have included traveling to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to talk to students, teachers and parents about the many opportunities at IU and to help them with the application process. He also brought students and teachers from Red Cloud Indian School to the campus to learn first-hand about applying for admission and financial aid, choosing a major and accessing cultural and educational support, according to a press release.
As director, Belle intends to continue his work connecting with members of native communities to promote diversity at IU and strengthen efforts in support of the First Nation center’s mission. He also wants the center to continue providing native students with opportunities to explore their family history and have conversations about student success strategies and uncomfortable topics such as identity politics and stereotypes, according to a press release.
“FNECC needs to be the hub for the Native experience at IU,” Belle said in a press release. “Showing that Native people are contributing to the broader American identity and American culture will make every situation much more comfortable for students as they enter the classroom.”
Leo Smith
