Dr. Megan Red Shirt-Shaw (Oglala & Sicangu Lakota) is a nationally recognized leader in education, known for her visionary thinking, grounded leadership, and deep commitment to Native students and communities. A scholar, speaker, and advocate, she brings cultural clarity and institutional insight to her work, calling for accountability, advancing Indigenous leadership, and guiding young people toward purpose and belonging.
Megan is the co-founder of Tokahe Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Native youth to dream of, invest in, and plan for their futures. Through Tokahe and her broader work, she is helping create pathways for the next generation of Native leaders to imagine expansive futures rooted in identity, community, and possibility.
Dr. Red Shirt-Shaw earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development with a focus on Higher Education and a minor in American Indian Studies from the University of Minnesota. In 2021, she was elected to a seven-year term on Harvard University’s Board of Overseers, helping shape the future of one of the world’s most influential academic institutions. Her widely circulated piece, Beyond the Land Acknowledgement: College “Land Back” or Free Tuition for Native Students, reflects her bold, community-rooted approach to systems change.
Megan formerly served as the Director of Native Student Services at the University of South Dakota. Her professional experience spans college counseling, admissions, student affairs, and teaching, all guided by a core belief: education must be a space where Native students are seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Beyond the Land Acknowledgment: Land, Higher Education, and Accountability to Native Nations
Land acknowledgements have become common in campus ceremonies and public events, but what comes next? In this powerful and thought-provoking presentation, Megan Red Shirt-Shaw challenges institutions to move beyond symbolic gestures toward transformational action. Drawing from her research and advocacy, she explores how colleges and universities came to occupy Native lands, and what true accountability looks like today. Megan outlines bold and practical steps institutions can take to honor Indigenous sovereignty and invest in community well-being and educational justice. This session invites reflection, responsibility, and values-based leadership in pursuit of lasting change.
Finding Your Way: Belonging, Community, and Thriving in College
College is more than a classroom experience—it’s a journey of connection, growth, and discovering where you belong. In this encouraging and insightful session, Megan Red Shirt-Shaw shares strategies for students to navigate campus life with purpose, especially when facing unfamiliar environments or identity-based challenges. Drawing from her experience as an educator, student services professional, and community-builder, Megan highlights the importance of inclusive culture, relationship-centered spaces, and trusted conversations that help students feel seen, supported, and empowered. Whether they’re just getting started or finding their footing mid-journey, this session offers tools for building connection, deepening understanding, and showing up for yourself and others throughout your college experience. This session can also be tailored to educators and student services professionals.
Kinship, Community, and Reimagining Education
In this moving and visionary presentation, Megan Red Shirt-Shaw offers a powerful look at how we can transform education through Native values, cultural presence, and collective care—rooted in belonging and responsibility to community. Drawing from her experiences as a Native educator, student advocate, and national voice in higher education, Megan invites audiences to reimagine institutions not as systems of compliance and control, but as spaces of connection, care, and shared purpose. With warmth and clarity, she speaks to the importance of relationship-centered leadership, recognizing Native presence and sovereignty, and creating education systems that reflect a deeper commitment to justice and inclusive culture.
The Leadership We Need Now: Purpose, People, and Staying Grounded
In a time of institutional pushback, culture shifts, and constant urgency, how do we stay rooted in what matters most? In this timely and uplifting talk, Megan Red Shirt-Shaw offers a powerful vision of leadership centered on care, clarity, and purpose. Drawing from her experience in education, governance, and advocacy, she speaks to the emotional and ethical challenges facing today’s leaders—especially those committed to justice, inclusion, and community. With warmth and insight, she offers practical ways to lead with integrity, remain connected to your why, and cultivate cultures where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to keep going.
