Jessica Solyom
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Arizona State University School of Social Transformation P.O. Box 871108 Tempe, AZ 85287-1108
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Mail code: 4308Campus: Tempe
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Jessica Solyom is an Assistant Research Professor in the School of Social Transformation. She is Affiliate Faculty at the Center for Indian Education where she has helped co-direct and co-design culturally relevant, respectful, and responsive education programs and research for Indigenous communities. Dr. Solyom brings with her a wealth of knowledge about Indigenous education, sovereignty and self-determination, culturally respectful research practices, critical culturally responsive education, and team building. Her research focuses on equity, belonging, and education justice particularly for Indigenous, Latino, and other historically underserved student populations and has been featured in various academic journal outlets including the Journal of American Indian Education, Theory into Practice, the American Journal of Education. She is the co-author of Postsecondary Education for American Indian and Alaska Natives: Higher Education for Nation Building and Self-Determination (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass).
Dr. Solyom’s research is generally inspired by a focus on Critical Race Theory, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies with an emphasis on intersectionality and learning. She has taught courses on these topics at various universities. Her courses and pedagogy highlight culturally responsive education, learner-centered education, social movements, and culturally relevant research practices as a tool to promote social equity and enhance the mental, social, and intellectual wellbeing of diverse communities.
With over 20 years’ experience working in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) serving programs and initiatives. She is co-creator of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion education series To Be Welcoming, created in partnership with Starbucks Global Academy. This series introduces learners to current discussions about bias, empathy, and dialogue as it relates to DEIB in professional and personal environments. Since launching in 2020, this public learning series’ has been engaged by over 94,000 learners across the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.
Previously Dr. Solyom served as Associate Director of the Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology (CGEST) where she helped direct and design culturally responsive research and programming to increase DEIB in STEM for girls of color - particularly Indigenous learners in the US. Currently, she serves as Assistant Research Professor in the School of Social Transformation where she teaches doctoral-level courses for the Women & Gender Studies program and Master in Indigenous Education Program. She is the co‐creator of CGEST’s CompuGirls: Cybersecurity Warriors program which prepares Indigenous girls in the U.S. and Hawaii to become thought leaders in STEM. Dr. Solyom earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees in Interpersonal Communication and Critical Cultural Studies from the University of Utah.
Doctor of Philosophy, Justice & Social Inquiry, Arizona State University
Dissertation: The (in)visibility paradox: A case study of American Indian iconography and student resistance in higher education
Master of Arts, Communication (Interpersonal & Critical Cultural Studies), University of Utah.
Bachelor of Science, Communication (Interpersonal), University of Utah
