Mary Jo Fox
- Research Professor
- Social Scientist, American Indian Studies
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
- (520) 626-4242
- Richard P. Harvill Building, Rm. 224
- Tucson, AZ 85721
- foxm@arizona.edu
Biography
Dr. Fox is Comanche/Cherokee, an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, a Research Professor of American Indian Studies (AIS), and affiliate faculty in Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Arizona (UA). At the UA, she is the former head of American Indian Studies, Associate Head of AIS, Assistant Vice-President for Minority Affairs, and Associate to the President for American Indian Affairs.Her scholarly activities and publications are focused on historical and contemporary American Indian women’s issues, American Indian Studies, and American Indian education, with an emphasis on higher education. Dr. Fox also has extensive experience working with Native American communities and organizations throughout the United States.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Higher Education
- The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- American Indians in Higher Education: Factors Related to Their Undergraduate College Entrance
Awards
- Co-Editor of WSSA Indigenous Journal
- World Social Science Association, Spring 2022
- elected to GIDP executive committee
- AIS GIDP, Spring 2022
- Past-President
- Western Social Science Association, Spring 2021
- President
- Western Social Science Association, Spring 2020
- Outstanding Faculty Service Award for 2018-2019 academic year
- Department of American Indian Studies, Spring 2019
- President-elect
- Western Social Science Association, Spring 2019
- Re-elected to the Executive Council of the Western Social Science Association
- Western Social Science Association, Fall 2014
Interests
Teaching
American Indian higher education, American Indian education, Native women issues, Teaching American Indian Studies
Research
American Indian higher education, Native women in the academy, Native American women issues, historical and contemporary, gender issues
Courses
2024-25 Courses
-
American Indian Gaming
AIS 485 (Spring 2025) -
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2025) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2025) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2025) -
Dissertation
AISG 920 (Spring 2025) -
College Teaching Methods
AIS 697A (Fall 2024) -
Dissertation
AISG 920 (Fall 2024) -
Educating Native Americans
AIS 348A (Fall 2024) -
Educating Native Americans
TLS 348A (Fall 2024) -
Honors Independent Study
HNRS 399H (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2024) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2024) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2024) -
Dissertation
AISG 920 (Spring 2024) -
Independent Study
AISG 699 (Spring 2024) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 465 (Spring 2024) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 565 (Spring 2024) -
Tribal Colleges
HED 565 (Spring 2024) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
AIS 679 (Fall 2023) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
HED 679 (Fall 2023) -
Dissertation
AISG 920 (Fall 2023) -
Educating Native Americans
AIS 348A (Fall 2023) -
Independent Study
AISG 699 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Summer I 2023) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Summer I 2023) -
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2023) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2023) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2023) -
Cntmp Am Indian Ed+Rsrch
AIS 678 (Spring 2023) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Spring 2023) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Spring 2023) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
AIS 679 (Fall 2022) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
HED 679 (Fall 2022) -
College Teaching Methods
AIS 697A (Fall 2022) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Fall 2022) -
Research
AIS 900 (Fall 2022) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2022) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2022) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2022) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Spring 2022) -
Hist Of Am Indian Educ
AIS 677 (Spring 2022) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Spring 2022) -
Research
AIS 900 (Spring 2022) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Spring 2022) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
AIS 679 (Fall 2021) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
HED 679 (Fall 2021) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Fall 2021) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Fall 2021) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2021) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2021) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2021) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Spring 2021) -
Independent Study
AIS 299 (Spring 2021) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Spring 2021) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 465 (Spring 2021) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 565 (Spring 2021) -
Tribal Colleges
HED 565 (Spring 2021) -
College Teaching Methods
AIS 697A (Fall 2020) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Fall 2020) -
Educating Native Americans
AIS 348A (Fall 2020) -
Research
AIS 900 (Fall 2020) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2020) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2020) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2020) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Spring 2020) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Spring 2020) -
Practicum
AIS 694 (Spring 2020) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Spring 2020) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 465 (Spring 2020) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 565 (Spring 2020) -
Tribal Colleges
HED 565 (Spring 2020) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
AIS 679 (Fall 2019) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
HED 679 (Fall 2019) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Fall 2019) -
Educating Native Americans
AIS 348A (Fall 2019) -
Educating Native Americans
TLS 348A (Fall 2019) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
-
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2019) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2019) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2019) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Spring 2019) -
Independent Study
AIS 599 (Spring 2019) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Spring 2019) -
Practicum
AIS 694 (Spring 2019) -
Research
AIS 900 (Spring 2019) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Spring 2019) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 465 (Spring 2019) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 565 (Spring 2019) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
AIS 679 (Fall 2018) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
HED 679 (Fall 2018) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Fall 2018) -
Educating Native Americans
AIS 348A (Fall 2018) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Fall 2018) -
Research
AIS 900 (Fall 2018) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
Internship
AIS 493 (Summer I 2018) -
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2018) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2018) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2018) -
Cntmp Am Indian Ed+Rsrch
AIS 678 (Spring 2018) -
Cntmp Am Indian Ed+Rsrch
LRC 678 (Spring 2018) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Spring 2018) -
Independent Study
AIS 599 (Spring 2018) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Spring 2018) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Fall 2017) -
Hist Of Am Indian Educ
AIS 677 (Fall 2017) -
Hist Of Am Indian Educ
LRC 677 (Fall 2017) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Fall 2017) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 465 (Fall 2017) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 565 (Fall 2017) -
Tribal Colleges
HED 565 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
-
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Summer I 2017) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
AIS 679 (Spring 2017) -
Amer Indian Higher Educ
HED 679 (Spring 2017) -
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2017) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2017) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2017) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Spring 2017) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Spring 2017) -
Research
AIS 900 (Spring 2017) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Winter 2016) -
College Teaching Methods
AIS 697A (Fall 2016) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Fall 2016) -
Educating Native Americans
AIS 348A (Fall 2016) -
Educating Native Americans
TLS 348A (Fall 2016) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Fall 2016) -
Research
AIS 900 (Fall 2016) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Fall 2016)
2015-16 Courses
-
Practicum
AIS 694 (Summer I 2016) -
American Indian Women
AIS 450 (Spring 2016) -
American Indian Women
AIS 550 (Spring 2016) -
American Indian Women
GWS 450 (Spring 2016) -
Dissertation
AIS 920 (Spring 2016) -
Independent Study
AIS 699 (Spring 2016) -
Internship
AIS 593 (Spring 2016) -
Research
AIS 900 (Spring 2016) -
Thesis
AIS 910 (Spring 2016) -
Tribal Colleges
AIS 565 (Spring 2016) -
Tribal Colleges
HED 565 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- Blair, M. L., Fox, M. J., & Smith, K. A. (2022). AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES NATIVE PHD GRADUATES GIFT THEIR STORIES. UARIZONA PRESS.
- Tippeconnic III, J. W., & Tippeconnic Fox, M. J. (2021). On Indian Ground, The Southwest. Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Chapters
- Fox, M. J. (2023). Scholar-Activists: Female Native Scholars in American Indian Studies. In Indigenous Women and Justice(pp 134-147). UArizona Press.More infoChapter in a book edited by Marianne O. Nielsen and Karen Jarratt-Snider, published by UArizona Press
- Fox, M. J. (2022).
PREFACE
. In American Indian Studies Native PHD Graduates Gift Their Stories(pp xv-xvii). University of Arizona Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctv2cmr96v.4 - Fox, J. T., & Fox, M. J. (2021). American Indian Educational Architecture in the Southwest. In On Indian Ground, The Southwest(pp 285-308). Information Age Publishing, Inc.
- Tippeconnic III, J. W., & Fox, M. J. (2021). American Indian Education Funding. In On Indian Ground, The Southwest(pp 221-246). Information Age Publishing, Inc.More infoA chapter on Indian education funding for a book
- Fox, M. J. (2020).
PROTECTING NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN:
. In Traditional, National, and International Law and Indigenous Communities(pp 123-139). doi:10.2307/j.ctv10vkzsz.11 - Tippeconnic Fox, M. J. (2020). Protecting Native American Women: Violence Against Women Act 2013. In Traditional, National, and International Law and Indigenous Communities. University of Arizona Press.More infoAsked to write a chapter for edited book on VAWA 2013.
- Tippeconnic III, J. W., & Tippeconnic Fox, M. J. (2015). American Indian Tribal Values: A Critical Consideration in the Education of American Indians/Alaska Natives Today. In Education in the Comanche Nation, Relationships, Responsibility, Redistribution and Reciprocity a book edited by Linda Sue Warner(pp chapter 2). Routledge.
- Fox, M. J. (2003).
Cherokee
. In Collection of Ethnography. doi:10.1007/0-387-29907-6_35
Journals/Publications
- Hunter, A., & Fox, M. J. (2020). Strengthening the Link between Education Policy: Culturally Responsive Schooling, and American Indian and Alaska Native Health. eJournal of Indigenous Early Childhood, summer 2020, 15-27.More infocollaboration with a doctoral candidate
- Hunter, A., Yuan, N. P., Nuno, V. L., Fox, M. J., & Carvajal, S. C. (2020). Effectiveness of culturally relevant after-school programs on health and developmental strengths among Indigenous youth: A systematic review. Journal of Adolescent Health.
- Fox, J. T., & Fox, M. T. (2018). Chapel of the Good Shepherd Mission. SAH Archipedia edited by Gabrielle Esperdy published by University of Virginia Press.More infoOnline publication
- Fox, J. T., & Fox, M. T. (2018). Navajo Nation Counsel Chamber. SAH Archipedia edited by Gabrielle Esperdy published by University of Virginia Press.More infoOnline publication
- Fox, J. T., & Fox, M. T. (2018). Phoenix Indian School Campus. SAH Archipedia edited by Gabrielle Esperdy published by University of Virginia Press.More infoOn line publication
- Tippeconnic Fox, M. J., & Tippeconnic III, J. W. (2017). American Indian/Native American Studies and the American Indian Education Experience. Wicazo Sa Review, 32(2).More infoA work in progress
- Tippeconnic Fox, M. J., Luna-Firebaugh, E., & williams, C. (2015). American Indian Women Leadership. Wicazo Sa Review, 30(1), 82-99.More infoArticle will appear in Spring 2015 edition of Journal. Accepted in 2014
- Fox, M. J., & Luna-Firebaugh, E. M. (2014). Education: A Tribal-State Approach to the Reduction of Criminal Disparity among American Indian Youth in Maine. Justice Policy Journal.
- Luna-Firebaugh, E., & Tippeconnic Fox, M. J. (2014). American Indian Juvenile Programs in Maine. Justice Policy Journal, 11(1), 1-30.More infoco-authored article
- Fox, M. J. (2013).
American Indian/Alaska Native Women: The Path to the Doctorate
. Journal of American Indian Education. doi:10.1353/jaie.2013.a798495More infoThis article studies the experiences of 13 American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women who earned doctorates at mainstream universities. What barriers did they encounter on their path to earning a doctorate? Is this the norm? How did the women respond? What motivates them to thrive and graduate? The research is framed in the Indigenous values of relationships, responsibility, respect, and reciprocity (4Rs) and utilizes critical Indigenous research methodologies (CIRM). Data were collected through personal interviews focusing on four areas; background, experiences, culture/traditions, and advice. Analysis of the findings consists of examining the answers utilizing coding to establish common factors or themes. The study reveals that AI/AN women are encountering barriers in their doctoral studies, which include personal situations, cultural aspects, finances, academics, climate issues, racism, sexism, and gender bias. In the face of these challenges, Native women are relying upon a number of strategies to succeed; family, support networks, cultural identity, American Indian personnel, commitment to community, and maintaining a balance between personal and academic life. - Tippeconnic, J. W., Iii, J. W., & Fox, M. J. (2012). American Indian tribal values: a critical consideration in the education of American Indians/Alaska Natives today. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 25(7), 841-853. doi:10.1080/09518398.2012.720730More infoThe education of American Indians and Alaska Natives has increasingly become more complex given the differences in tribal languages and cultures, especially as changing demographics and issues of Indian identity are considered. There are over 200 languages and vast cultural differences between and within the 565 federally recognized tribes in Indian Country. Adding to the complexity are the various types of schools, colleges, and universities that are educating Native students. Many educational institutions are identifying tribal values as a way to provide an overall framework or as “guiding principles” to teaching, learning, research, and governance. This analysis will examine the literature on the use of tribal values, focus on a qualitative study of Comanche attributes, and discuss the implications for research and practice in education and American Indian Studies.
- Luna-firebaugh, E. M., & Fox, M. J. (2010). The Sharing Tradition: Indian Gaming in Stories and Modern Life. Wíčazo Ša Review, 25(1), 75-86. doi:10.1353/wic.0.0059
- Fox, M. J. (2009). American Indian Women in Academia: The Joys and Challenges. Naspa Journal About Women in Higher Education, 1(1), 204-223. doi:10.2202/1940-7890.1011More infoThis study explores the joys and challenges of being a professor based upon the personal experiences of 10 American Indian women in public Research I universities. Since the literature is sparse on the experiences of Native women in the academy, this study provides insight, especially to American Indian women aspiring to such careers, and for administrators and policy makers encouraging diversity on their campuses. The American Indian female professors in this study have both satisfying and challenging experiences at their universities. Not one of the women regrets her decision to pursue a career as a professor, but their journey is not easy. They enjoy academic freedom and autonomy; their research agendas, teaching, and working with students; the flexibility of the job; collegiality; support of mentors and colleagues; and service opportunities, especially with tribal communities. However, several of these Native women express feelings of isolation as the only person of color in their department, being tr...
- Fox, M. J., & Comanche, M. J. (2005). Voices from within: Native American faculty and staff on campus. New Directions for Student Services, 2005(109), 49-59. doi:10.1002/ss.153More infoWhat is the role of Native American faculty and staff in majority institutions with relation to Native American students? This chapter provides recommendations for student affairs professionals and further research.
- Fox, M. J., Lowe, S. C., & Mcclellan, G. (2005). Serving Native American Students.. New Directions for Student Services, 109. doi:10.14507/er.v0.668More infoPreface (Margaret J. Barr). Editors' Notes (Mary Jo Tippeconnic Fox (Comanche), Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), George S. McClellan) Prayer (Henrietta Mann (Cheyenne)). 1. Where We Have Been: A History of Native American Higher Education (George S. McClellan, Mary Jo Tippeconnic Fox (Comanche), Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo)). Drawing on the extant literature, this chapter provides an overview of Native American higher education. 2. Native American Student Retention in U.S. Postsecondary Education (James A. Larimore (Comanche), George S. McClellan). This chapter provides a survey of the higher education literature on Native American student retention, framing the discussion in the context of the broader body of literature on retention. 3. This Is Who I Am: Experiences of Native American Students (Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo)). This chapter provides insight into the experiences of Native American students in higher education, but it is not a story about what faculty and staff should expect from all Native American students. 4. Perspectives of American Indian Nation Parents and Leaders (Raymond D. Austin (Navajo)). This chapter discusses tribal leaders' and parents' perceptions and expectations of higher education as they relate to five areas: tribal legal status, funding for Indian college students, support for Indian students, cooperative relationships between universities and Indian nations, and respect for Indian cultures and languages. 5. Voices from Within: Native American Faculty and Staff on Campus (Mary Jo Tippeconnic Fox (Comanche)). The author addresses the experiences of Native American faculty and staff in mainstream institutions, the role they can play in supporting Native American students, and the ways in which they can collaborate with non-Native faculty and staff to support Native American students. 6. Native American Identity (Perry G. Horse (Kiowa)). Indian or tribal identity is a personalized process that is influenced by legal and political considerations, psychosocial factors, proximity or access to a given culture, socialization, and one's own sensibility. 7. American Indian Epistemologies (Gregory A. Cajete (Tewa)). There is no word for epistemology in any American Indian language. However, there is certainly a body of understandings that can be said to compose what this branch of Western philosophy would explore as the origins, nature, and methods of coming to know a way of life. 8. Serving American Indian Students in Tribal Colleges: Lessons for Mainstream Colleges(Robert G. Martin (Cherokee)). This chapter describes the ways in which tribally controlled colleges work to serve the needs of their students and of tribal communities. 9. American Indian Student Services at UND (Donna L. Brown (Turtle Mountain Chippewa)). This chapter describes and discusses American Indian Student Services (AISS) at the University of North Dakota as one model for Native American student support services at predominantly white institutions. 10. From Discussion to Action (George S. McClellan, Mary Jo Tippeconnic Fox (Comanche), and Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo)). The editors provide a brief summary of key recommendations and closing thoughts. Resources. Index.
- Navajo, S. C., Mcclellan, G. S., Lowe, S. C., Fox, M. J., & Comanche, M. J. (2005). From discussion to action. New Directions for Student Services, 2005(109), 95-98. doi:10.1002/ss.158More infoThis chapter describes nine of this volume's themes and offers summary recommendations stemming from those themes.
- Navajo, S. C., Mcclellan, G. S., Lowe, S. C., Fox, M. J., & Comanche, M. J. (2005). Where we have been: A history of Native American higher education. New Directions for Student Services, 2005(109), 7-15. doi:10.1002/ss.149More infoThis chapter provides an overview of the three eras in the history of Native American higher education in the United States: the colonial, federal, and self-determination eras.
- Fox, M. J. (2002). Shamanism: Piers Vitebsky; Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2001, 184 pages. Social Science Journal, 39(2), 314-316. doi:10.1016/s0362-3319(02)00175-1More infoPiers Vitebsky is repeatedly asked about Shamanism and Shamans, especially each time he returns from fieldwork in traditional Shamanic communities. Questions abound like: What are Shamans? What do ...
Presentations
- Fox, M. J. (2023, April). Native American Women and Covid 19; roundtable presentation. World Social Science Association conference. Tempe, AZ: WSSA.More infoRoundtable presentation on my research about Native women and Covid 19
- Fox, M. J. (2020, spring). Roundtable presenter on social justice issues in Indian country: American Indian women and activism. 2020 Western Social Science Association Online conference.
- Muniz, F., Carlos, K., Hunter, A., Fox, M. J., Nuno, V. L., Carvajal, S. C., & Yuan, N. P. (2020, Oct). Mixed methods evaluation of a culturally-grounded after-school program on an urban-based American Indian reservation. APHA. Virtual.
- Fox, M. J. (2019, April). Native women Social Justice Panel: Murdered and Missing Women and Girls. Western Social Science Association Conference. San Diego: WSSA.
- Fox, M. J. (2018, April). Native Women Actvism. Western Social Science Association Conference. San Antonio: American Indian Studies.More infoInvited to participate in a round-table presentation
- Fox, M. J. (2016, April). Protecting Native women. western Social Science Association conference. Reno Nevada: AIS section of WSSA.
- Fox, M. J. (2015, April 2015). Roundtable: Native women and VAWA. Western Social Science Association conference. Portland, Oregon: WSSA.More infoRound-table presenter on Native women and VAWA
- Fox, M. J., & Fox, J. T. (2015, October). John Collier's Indian New Deal: The Problem of Federal Indian School Architectural Reform. Southeast Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians. San Antonio, TX: SSAH.
- Fox, M. J. (2014, April). Roundtable: Current Native American Justice Research. Western Social Science Association conference. Albuquerque, NM: WSSA.More infoa roundtable presentation of research
- Fox, M. J. (2014, February 21). Incorporating Native Culture into American Indian Studies at Mainstream Institutions. Southwest Popular Culture and American Culture Association Conference. Albuquerque, New Mexico: Southwest Popular Culture and American Culture Association.More infoA paper presentation
Reviews
- Fox, M. J. (2021. Sovereign Schools: How Shoshones and Arapahos Created a High School on the Wind River Reservation: Book review(pp 374-376).