Reno Reporter

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) recently appointed Daphne Hooper as its new director of community Indigenous relations, according to a UNR news release.

Hooper was formerly the city manager of Fernley, Nevada. She was chosen after a nationwide search that included interviews with members of the university's search committee.

"I have worked in public service for over 20 years, which started with working in tribal communities, community nonprofits, and then in local government," Hooper said in the news release.

Her duties will include addressing external Indigenous relations and campus policies, increasing the retention of Indigenous students, and advising the university president.

"Our university is proud to welcome Daphne Hooper, a community leader with years of prior experience in public service," Brian Sandoval, university president, said in the news release. "Not only am I confident in Daphne’s abilities to help increase support for our Indigenous students on campus but also to increase the university's collaboration with the tribal communities in northern Nevada."

Hooper possesses experience working with Indigenous groups; she served as the executive director of Nevada Urban Indians (NUI), the news release noted. NUI is an organization that assists Native Americans and other marginalized members of society. Then, she worked as Fernley's city manager for 10 years.

"Over two years ago, a group of us worked together to establish the Nevada Tribal Leadership Development Program, and we have also been working with some tribes on strategic planning," Hooper said. "With these experiences, I felt it was a great opportunity to work with communities to not only work toward building bridges for education but also an opportunity for the university to provide resources to support our Native communities.”

Hooper is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University, according to the news release. She earned a Master of Science degree in community economic development from the school in 2008. She graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1992 and the University of Phoenix in 2004.