2024 MFACW Hooding Ceremony

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) congratulates the IAIA Master of Fine Arts programs on their remarkable achievements this year. Each program held individual Hooding Ceremonies during Commencement week, and overall, they graduated a total of 40 students at the 2024 IAIA Commencement Ceremony.

MFA in Creative Writing (MFACW) hosted a Hooding Ceremony on the evening of Thursday, May 9, after a week of graduate readings at the Lannan House in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The ceremony featured introductions by MFACW Director Deborah Taffa (Kwatsaán and Laguna Pueblo), followed by an address by Keynote Speaker Phil J. Deloria (Yankton Dakota). A recording of the event is available to view.

MFA in Studio Arts (MFASA) held its Hooding Ceremony on the morning of Friday, May 10. The celebration featured an opening prayer by Michael Garcia (Acoma Pueblo), an introduction by MFASA Director Dr. Mario A. Caro (Colombian Mestizo), and a keynote address by IAIA Trustee and Alum Rose B. Simpson (Santa Clara Pueblo) ’07 and ’18. MFASA then had the opening reception for the 2024 thesis exhibition, We’ve Been Gathering Places, later that day at form & concept in Santa Fe’s Railyard District. The exhibition will remain on view through June 15.

Notably, the MFA in Cultural Administration (MFACA) hosted its inaugural Hooding Ceremony on the afternoon of Friday, May 10, as this is the first graduating cohort to come out of the program. The event featured introductions by MFACA Program Coordinator Dina Velarde (Jicarilla Apache), a keynote address by Alum and 2024–2025 Faculty of the Year Angelica Gallegos (Chicana) ’15, and concluding remarks with MFACA Director Dr. Jessie Ryker-Crawford (White Earth Chippewa) ’00, followed by a celebratory dinner.