PULLMAN, WA – After more than a decade of service to Washington State University, Zoe Higheagle Strong, vice provost for Native American Relations and Programs, Tribal liaison to the president, and associate professor in Educational Psychology, will depart the university to pursue a new role at Central Washington University. Her tenure at WSU has been defined by visionary leadership and a commitment to strengthening the university’s relationship with Tribal Nations across Washington and the region.
“Dr. Higheagle Strong’s leadership is deeply relational and grounded in care for students as family,” said WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell. “Her impact will continue to shape WSU’s partnerships with the Tribal Nations connected to its campuses and homelands for years to come.”
A member of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe, Higheagle Strong has led with the conviction that the success of a land-grant university must be rooted in authentic partnerships with Tribal Nations and Native American communities. She has championed the integration of Tribal sovereignty, culture and knowledge systems into the fabric of WSU’s teaching, research, and outreach missions.
Dr. Higheagle Strong’s leadership is deeply relational and grounded in care for students as family. Her impact will continue to shape WSU’s partnerships with the Tribal Nations connected to its campuses and homelands for years to come.
Elizabeth Cantwell, president
Washington State University
Among her most transformative achievements is the co-development and implementation of Executive Policy 41: Tribal Engagement, Consultation, and Consent, a university-wide framework that institutionalizes government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations. The policy, one of the first of its kind nationally, has become a model for how universities can uphold Tribal sovereignty while advancing shared educational and research goals.
Higheagle Strong also led the creation of the Native Coug Scholars Fund, a $1.7 million scholarship initiative supported by the state of Washington. The program is built around Tribal Nation building principles and has expanded access, increased retention, and provided support for Native students. Its 83% retention rate underscores the success of culturally grounded and community-driven approaches to higher education.
Throughout her WSU career, she worked to increase Native representation among faculty, staff, and students. She expanded support for Tribally-engaged research and strengthened data sovereignty through the Center for Native American Research and Collaboration. As principal investigator and co-principal investigator on several major federal grants, she has advanced Indigenous knowledge systems and educational pathways that honor Tribal self-determination and long-term sustainability.
Most recently, Higheagle Strong led the 2025 Native American Education Opportunity Gap Study, commissioned by the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. She collaborated closely with Tribes and Native Nations throughout the region on the study which will guide future K–12 education policy to better serve Native students across Washington state.
Zoe Higheagle Strong leaves behind a legacy of lasting institutional change and a stronger foundation for meaningful collaboration between WSU and the Tribal Nations it serves.
Transition plans for the Tribal liaison and the Office of Native American Programs will be announced at a later date.
