I am pleased to announce the appointment of Timothy K. Topper (Cheyenne River Sioux) as Director of the Intertribal Resource Center (ITRC), effective Monday, March 25, 2024.
Tim brings years of demonstrated leadership experience supporting Indigenous and other diverse communities, including students, staff, faculty, and tribal partners. His professional career started in Housing and Conference Services at Texas Tech University, then progressed to managing an inaugural team at Chapman University’s Cross Cultural Center and Civic Engagement Initiatives, and most recently in Advising for UCLA’s American Indian Studies Center. At UC San Diego, Tim joins a team of Community Center Directors and Program Coordinators in the VC for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion area, whose work advances our university mission and divisional priorities.
As director, Tim will lead efforts to provide an integrated approach to developing programs and practices to improve Native American student outreach, academic success, leadership and professional development, inclusion and retention, and the overall Native American student experience. He will provide leadership in strategic planning and crafting a vision for the ITRC. Tim will also serve as a liaison between the University and the greater San Diego County Tribal Community.
Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in Geology at Fort Lewis College, a master’s degree in in Higher Education Administration at Texas Tech University, and is in his final year of doctoral study in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern California, researching asset and place-based approaches to Native student excellence and resilience in California’s 4-year colleges.
Please join me in welcoming Timothy Topper to our Triton community.
