Elizabeth Rule
Dr. Elizabeth Rule is a renowned academic and scholar, and an enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. She holds the position of Assistant Professor of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies at American University in Washington, DC. Her educational journey includes a B.A. in American Studies from Yale University, an M.A. in American Studies from Brown University in 2014, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Brown University in 2019.
Dr. Rule's work extensively covers issues within the Native American community, and she is recognized for her insightful research and contributions. Her research has gained notable attention in various prestigious publications and media outlets, including the Washington Post, Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, The Atlantic, Newsy, and NPR. She is a published author, with scholarly articles in American Quarterly and the American Indian Culture and Research Journal.
Her significant works include the monographs "Reproducing Resistance: Gendered Violence and Indigenous Nationhood" and "Indigenous DC: Native Peoples and the Nation’s Capital." The former explores the intersection of violence against Native women, reproductive justice, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis and received the Julien Mezey Award from the Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities in 2020. The latter work, which examines historical and contemporary Indigenous sites in Washington D.C., was awarded the Outstanding Book Award from the Association for Ethnic Studies.
Dr. Rule's influence extends beyond academia through her active involvement in public speaking and education on Native American issues. She has delivered over 100 public speaking engagements and interviews across three continents and seven countries at various prestigious institutions and organizations.
She created the Guide to Indigenous Lands Project, which includes the Guide to Indigenous DC, a mobile application and digital map highlighting Indigenous sites of importance in Washington, D.C. This project received media attention across numerous outlets and was recognized with the Library Company of Philadelphia’s Biennial Innovation Award in 2021. Following the success of this project, she also developed a Guide to Indigenous Baltimore.
Previously, Dr. Rule has held several influential positions, including the Director of the AT&T Center for Indigenous Politics and Policy and Faculty in Residence at George Washington University. In her role at the AT&T Center for Indigenous Politics and Policy, she led educational programs and research, focusing on public policy decision-making and intergovernmental relations between tribal governments and the federal government.
In addition to her extensive academic and professional accomplishments, Dr. Elizabeth Rule was appointed by Governor Hochul as Deputy Secretary for First Nations of New York State. This prestigious appointment is a testament to her expertise and dedication to Indigenous issues and policy. In this role, Dr. Rule brings her wealth of knowledge and experience in Indigenous law, culture, and history to the forefront of state government, where she can significantly contribute to policy decisions and initiatives affecting First Nations communities in New York.
Dr. Rule's multifaceted career as an educator, researcher, and advocate for Indigenous communities makes her a distinguished figure in the field of Indigenous studies and an invaluable member of the Advisory Council for the Center for the Futures of Native Peoples at Dickinson College.