Dr. Sherry Allison, has been selected to receive the National Indian Education Association’s (NIEA’s) Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her extensive professional contribution to Indian Education, including her leadership at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) where she has served as president for the past eight years. In announcing its selection, NIEA noted that in every position she has held, Dr. Allison has demanded excellence from staff and herself. She has upheld SIPI’s mission of serving Indian Country. 

A member of the Navajo Nation, Dr. Allison grew up in Shiprock, New Mexico. She is of the Oozei’ Tachii’nii (Red Running into the Water People) clan, born for the Naakaii Dine’e’ (Mexican) clan. Her maternal and paternal grandparents are Ma’ii deeshgiizhinii (Coyote Pass-Jemez clan) and Tsi’naajinii (Black Streak Wood People), respectively. Allison holds a Doctorate of Education from Northern Arizona University. As president of SIPI, Dr. Allison has served on numerous national and state boards, task forces, and committees. From 1999-2000, she served as president of NIEA. She has served as chair of the New Mexico Individuals with Disabilities Education Act advisory panel, director of professional development and special education for the BIA Center for School Improvement, a facilitator for the White House Conference on Indian Education, and she has been an active member in the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. In all, Dr. Allison has over 30 years of professional experience in education.

Recognized with numerous honors, she is most proud of being selected as a Patricia Roberts Harris Academic Fellow by the U.S. Department of Education, which enabled her to complete her doctorate degree. Dr. Allison makes her home in Albuquerque with her husband, Alley David (Pueblo of Laguna). They are the parents of three adult sons and guardian of their 17-year-old niece; they have six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

“NIEA is proud to recognize the lifetime of service Dr. Sherry Allision has provided to Native education and Native students,” states the NIEA. Allison will be formally recognized at the NIEA Awards Luncheon on Friday, October 6 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, Florida.