Diné College officials and community leaders gathered at the Tsaile campus on November 21, 2025, to break ground on a new STEM building designed to transform scientific education for the Navajo Nation. The ceremony marked the start of construction for a modern facility tailored to meet the evolving academic requirements of the college’s science programs.

The project addresses a critical need to upgrade infrastructure installed in the late 1970s. Science classes previously occupied the Gorman classroom building, a structure intended initially for general instruction rather than complex scientific inquiry. As the college expanded its offerings to include four-year degrees in laboratory sciences and master’s programs in biology, administrators prioritized the creation of a dedicated, versatile laboratory.

“This STEM building has been a long time coming,” said Leon Jackson, director of project operations, capital projects at Diné College. “As our academics evolved, it became evident that makeshift classroom laboratories were not sufficient to meet the criteria for specific fields of study. We needed a versatile laboratory that meets the demands of various disciplines for research and lab work.”

The design process involved extensive collaboration between college leadership and Dyron Murphy of Dyron Murphy Architects. The planning team visited laboratories at major research institutions, including the University of New Mexico and Arizona State University, to benchmark high academic standards. Murphy worked through 28 iterations of the floor plan to ensure the facility would accommodate everything from introductory courses to advanced microbiological research.

Funding for the project came from the U.S. Department of Education through a Title III grant. Acting president Glennita Haskey emphasized the initiative’s student-centered focus in her remarks. “It is all about the students. The students are the core of all of this,” Haskey said. “You might use the building next year, but it’s going to be your children and their children who are going to come through these doors and utilize our facility. We’re setting a true foundation here.”

The new facility promises advanced technological capabilities, including spaces for next-generation gene sequencing and native plant research. Dr. Shazia Hakim, chair of the School of STEM, highlighted the building’s potential to support a strong research ecosystem. “This building will be a gateway to innovation, nurturing curiosity, knowledge, and opportunity for the Navajo Nation and beyond,” Hakim said. “We are making sure that our students get what they want for their higher education close to their home.”

Kimberlee Williams, a member of the Diné College Board of Regents, reflected on the intersection of modern science and traditional knowledge. “Science is finally catching up with our Navajo cultures, our teachings, and everything that we instill in institutions,” Williams said. “Thank you for your dedication, your hard work.”

Arviso Construction is managing construction on the building, which officials noted will serve the college for generations.