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Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Michaela Vendiola
Bellingham WA American Indian Health and Policy
Fairhaven is one of the oldest interdisciplinary colleges in the nation, and a truly unique place: a 425-student college offering seminar classes of 14 to 20 students, with a broad focus on social justice and community. As a Fairhaven student, you take an uncommon level of responsibility for your education while working closely with faculty mentors. Design your own degree or pursue any major offered by Western. Examples of recent student-designed concentrations include: Medicine and Social Justice; Law, Diversity, and Justice: Sustainable Food Ecosystems; and Youth Advocacy: Social Activism through Expressive Arts. For her concentration, Michaela created “American Indian Health and Policy.” Michaela grew up on the Lummi Indian Reservation, and believes strong Lummi role models in the health professions will inspire future generations of American Indian youth to become passionate about the wellbeing of their people. For her part, Michaela has already served as the Community Health Representative for the Lummi Tribe. “Growing up, I never had an American Indian doctor or nurse at any point in my life. We have already seen evidence that when young students see people who look like them working the jobs they want, they are more likely to set those careers as a goal for themselves.”
Fairhaven alumni are leaders in a range of fields, including social entrepreneurship, law, audio recording, social justice, education, and sustainability The student-run Outback Farm offers hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture, habitat restoration, ethnobotany and environmental studies
Three Fairhaven students annually receive a $20,000 Adventure Learning Grant that allows them to travel abroad for 10 months
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