Stephanie Stewart (Navajo and Kiowa) ’19

When Stephanie Stewart (Navajo and Kiowa) ’19 first began her educational journey, she majored in biology and originally wanted to explore forensic studies.  

A stint as an intern in Window Rock, Arizona, at the Navajo Nation Museum while in high school working with the curator had already opened her eyes to the world of museum work, or “forensics for objects,” as she calls it.  

Then, starting her educational journey at New Mexico State University as a biology major, the call to museum work came back full force.  

“One of our assignments was to interview a professor outside of our majors. I went to the art department and found a new program—museum conservation—and I felt like it was the perfect fit for me, a combination of art and science (and a lot of chemistry).”

To be closer to home, Stewart decided to pursue her AFA at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), completing her BA in Museum Conservation at New Mexico State University.  

Accessibility and the cultural familiarity of studying at a Tribal university were two of the biggest benefits of studying at IAIA, Stewart says. “All of my classes were six to ten people maximum,” she says. “I felt that all the professors took time to get to know the students. Everyone and everything felt like a shared connection of culture. It’s just how I was raised. My mom is Navajo and it’s her first language. Going into classes and being around students with similar cultural beliefs, I felt like I was home.” 

Stewart also had the opportunity of working with museum collections as well as I the museum. “The knowledge I gained has been extremely valuable to me and everything I learned I still use to this day.” 

Now Stewart is back at IAIA, this time using her gained knowledge and experience as a curatorial assistant at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA).  

“I’m excited to be back,” Stewart says. “Although it’s sometimes hard for me to switch mindsets and realize I’m not a student anymore. Even so, I feel like a perennial student—we are always learning!” 

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