Contact Us
Coordinator for Native & Indigenous Student Involvement
Kyrsha Balderas (she/her)
Email: balderas@umd.edu
Greeting:
Oa! Neno nedtidese Mesquasenoqua. Netidese Kyrsha. NeMeskwaki. Meskwaki hEnaki netottiki. Ketebi. (Meskwaki)
Hello! My Meskwaki name is Red-Clouded Lady. My name is Kyrsha and I am Meskwaki. The Meskwaki land is where I live. Thank you. (American English translation)
Bio:
Kyrsha Balderas is an Indigenous woman creating a queer future. She believes in the collective responsibility to gain advanced knowledge, challenge perspectives, and commit to developing & strengthening inclusive environments in higher education. She is motivated by the journey of empowering Native & Indigenous students to find and maintain their identities through higher education institutions. Kyrsha honors her relations from the Meskwaki Settlement in Iowa and Zacatecas, Mexico. Kyrsha completed her master's degree in Student Affairs Administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and her bachelors degree in Sociology from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Kyrsha is the new full-time Coordinator for Native & Indigenous Student Involvement and Community Advocacy. Located in the MICA Office in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Kyrsha supports Native & Indigenous programs designed to promote student development and programs designed to explain the historical and modern conditions of the Native & Indigenous cultures and communities.
Graduate Coordinator for Native & Indigenous Student Involvement
Xandie Iti Luskabi (she/her)
Email: xwood@umd.edu
Greeting:
Halito, chim achukma? Sυ Póⁿka hohchifo yυt óⁿba xhíⁿga. Sυ hohchifo yυt Xandie Iti Lusakbi. Chahta Póⁿka sia. Yakoke! Chi pisa la chike.
Hello, how are you? My Ponca name is Little Sun Rising. My name is Xandie Iti Lusakbi. I am Choctaw and Ponca. Thank you! See you later.
I am your graduate coordinator and would be happy to meet with you and answer any questions you have. Feel free to email me! I am also a doctoral student in the Criminology and Criminal Justice department here at UMD, so I am navigating UMD as an Indigenous student and I am here for you!
Native & Indigenous Student Involvement COSI
Alyssa Gilmore (she/her)
Alyssa is pursuing a major in Psychology. She will be graduating in Spring 2026. Alyssa joined the MICA office Fall 2023, as the Native/Indigenous COSI.