I am always excited when an outstanding educator earns recognition for their contributions to the teaching profession. That’s what this blog and website is all about! Today, I am excited to write about the selection of Cornel Pewewardy to the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame.

Dr. Cornel Pewewardy has been named a 2024 inductee into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Oklahoma Educators Hal of Fame

Cornel is best-known for his research and scholarship, which have greatly influenced public and higher education, especially for Native American students, educators, and administrators. Through this research, he challenged and expanded the understanding of Indigenous education, teacher training, and tribal leadership preparation throughout the state of Oklahoma and nationwide.

With lineage that traces back to Comanche and Kiowa roots, Cornel once served as the Vice Chair of the Comanche Nation. He currently serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, a professor-of-practice at Kansas State University, and as an adjunct faculty member at numerous colleges and universities in Oklahoma and across the country. In addition, he’s an author and frequent presenter on Indigenous education issues.

Cornel inaugurated his career in education as a recreation assistant for Sequoyah Indian High School in Tahlequah in 1975. He then went on to serve in positions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico; the University of Oklahoma; the University of Minneapolis; Saint Paul (Minnesota) Public Schools; the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha; Cameron University in Lawton; Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio; Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas; Comanche Nation College in Lawton; Portland State University in Oregon; and Kansas State University. He also founded the Comanche Academy Charter School in Lawton.

Cornel earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northeastern State University (Tahlequah), a second Master’s degree from New Mexico State University, a post-graduate certificate from the University of New Mexico, and his PhD from Pennsylvania State University.

His induction into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame is not the only recognition Cornel has earned. He has been named the Big XII Outstanding American Indian Faculty of the Year five times, and he also received the Crystal Eagle Award for Outstanding Leadership at the University of Kansas. He has also received the National Indian Education Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and honors from the University of Kansas Endowment Association, Portland State University, the Oregon Indian Education Association, and the Oklahoma Council for Indian Education.

Congratulations, Dr. Cornel Pewewardy!