Join the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) on Thursday, August 29, for the 2024 Fall President’s Convocation and Campus Blessing. The event will begin at 10:30 am (MDT) in the Dance Circle with a four-directions campus blessing.

Following the campus blessing, the convocation will take place in the Performing Arts and Fitness Center (PAFC) Gym at 11 pm with a welcome address from IAIA President Dr. Robert Martin (Cherokee Nation) and a keynote address by DezBaa’ (Diné) ’21.

• 10:30–11 am: Campus Blessing, Dance Circle (Livestreamed—no audio)
• 11 am–12 pm: President’s Convocation, Gym (Livestreamed)
• 12 pm–1 pm: Luncheon and Activities, Dance Circle

The President’s Convocation will be livestreamed for our off-campus community members on the IAIA website.

About DezBaa’

DezBaa’ (Diné and Basque, Spanish, and Mexican descent) ’21 is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Writers Guild of America (WGA). She is an actor, screenwriter, director, and indie film producer.

DezBaa’ began her career in the New Mexico film industry as a background actor, but soon landed speaking roles—first in Woman Walks Ahead, a 2017 film directed by Susanna White and starring Jessica Chastain. Other supporting roles have been opposite Julianne Moore, Michael Shannon, Christian Bale, and Ciarán Hinds.

For three seasons, DezBaa’ starred opposite Zahn McClarnon as Helen Atcitty in AMC’s Dark Winds. She also was a staff writer on Season 2.

A former Division of Natural Resources Navajo Nation employee, DezBaa’ has a bachelor’s degree in geology from Amherst College and two Master of Fine Arts degrees—one in screenwriting, another in creative nonfiction—from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA).

She is the mother of Nizhonibaa’, a budding actor and artist. DezBaa’ is born for the Nooda’í Dine’e (Ute clan) and raised in Española, New Mexico. She was born in Santa Fe, where she currently lives.