NCRE Scholars Program

The Native Children’s Research Exchange (NCRE) brings together researchers studying child development from birth through emerging adulthood in Native communities. NCRE provides opportunities for the open exchange of information and ideas and for building collaborative relationships and disseminating knowledge about Native children’s development. Mentoring the next generation of scholars is central to NCRE’s mission.

Since 2012, NCRE Scholars has provided career development support to late stage doctoral students, individuals in postdoctoral training programs, and early career investigators interested in pursuing research on substance use and disorder and Native child and adolescent development. NCRE Scholars has supported 37 Scholars to date, including 21 doctoral students, 6 postdoctoral trainees, and 10 early career investigators. Through its conference-based NCRE stars (Students Thinking about Research CareerS) program, NCRE Scholars has supported nearly 40 additional early stage researchers.

The NCRE Scholars program is currently supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R25DA050645 – Whitesell and Sarche, MPI and R25DA061492 –  Ivanich and Sarche, MPI).

Heather Sauyaq Jean Gordon, PhD (Cohort 11)

Heather Sauyaq Jean Gordon, PhD (Sauyaq Solutions/American University), is one of twenty outstanding scholars who will engage in collaborative, multi-disciplinary research over the next 18 months as part of the fourth iteration of the Fulbright Arctic Initiative, which seeks to advance Arctic nations’ shared interest in building a secure and sustainable Arctic region.  Researchers will explore topics in the thematic areas of climate change and Arctic resources, Arctic security and governance, and mental health and well-being. This initiative is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, along with the governments of Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, and Iceland. 

Dr. Gordon’s Fulbright project is titled "Indigenous Sovereignty and Arctic Security: Human Rights and Environmental Justice in Governance." By integrating Indigenous sovereignty over land and water management into Arctic governance frameworks (learning from Sami in Sápmi and Inuit in Nunavut, hosted by Finland and Canada), this research aims to enhance ecological security, resilience, and wellbeing, while safeguarding Indigenous cultures and livelihoods. 

Congratulations Heather!

Katherina Arteaga, MA (Cohort 13)

Katherina Arteaga (Ysleta del Sur Pueblo) is a Clinical Psychology Graduate Student at Oklahoma State University.  In early October she proposed her dissertation and received approval from her committee.  Her dissertation is titled "Cognition and Resilience in Relation to Potentially Traumatic Events among Indigenous Young Adults."

Congratulations Kat!

Meenakshi Richardson, PhD (Cohort 11) and Alexis Merculief, PhD (Cohort 10)

In early October 2025, the SRCD Indigenous Caucus announced that a new governing council had been elected with unanimous support, which included welcoming Dr. Meenakshi Richardson (Haliwa-Saponi Tribe) as Secretary and Dr. Alexis Merculief (Aleut) as Treasurer.  

The SRCD Indigenous Caucus was established in 2022 to advance developmental research on Indigenous children, youth, and families; to advocate for increased attention to issues related to indigeneity in developmental science more broadly; and to support the development of Indigenous researchers and scholars within developmental science.   

Congratulations Meena and Alexis!