University Theme Events
The Purpose, Empowerment, and Persistence Theme will include a variety of events throughout the year that will help the WSU community explore together how we can encourage persistence and support empowerment among our students.
Ongoing Events
WSU Common Book
Connect with the 2022-23 WSU Common Book resources and events as well.
Film Series
The University Theme plans to partner with the Film Series throughout the year.
Keynote Speaker
Oct. 3 & 4
The University Theme Keynote speaker, Dr. Delana Smith, will be available for facilitated online sessions with various, faculty, administrative faculty, staff, and students.
Dr. Smith says she “stumbled into education” when she started working at the Red Lake Head Start and fell in love with it, going on to earn her Associate of Art Degree in Childcare and Education. In 2004 a childhood dream became a reality when she was crowned Miss Indian World.
After her reign, Dr. Smith went back to school to finish her degree Early Childhood Education from Bemidji State University. She was hired by the Red Lake School District as a Kindergarten teacher, later being reassigned as a school readiness teacher. She went on to complete her graduate degree at Bemidji State University, and after seven years with the school district, began working for Leech Lake Tribal College and the Red Lake Nation College.
Dr. Smith decided she wasn’t done with her educational journey and was accepted into St. Cloud State University’s Doctorate program in Educational Administration and Leadership, graduating in 2019. She worked at Bemidji State University for a short time and currently serves as the Equity Coordinator and District Dean of Students for the Deer River School District in northern Minnesota.
