Agnes Attakai receives inaugural Skoden UA award

Agnes Attakai, MPA, director of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities' Circle of Indigenous Empowerment Program, received the Skoden UA Christine Garcia Award.

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The award from the Native American Faculty and Staff Association, known as Skoden UA, honors those who have provided outstanding support to the community and Native American students. This was the first year for the awards. 

“I am very honored to be chosen as one of the inaugural recipients of the Skoden UA Christine Garcia Wildcat Award because I was nominated and ultimately chosen for the award by fellow staff members,” Attakai said. “As Native staff members, we make it our mission to ensure we provide a welcoming environment for our incoming students, support and mentor students as they journey through the U of A, and celebrate their successes. As an alum, I did not have that support as a freshman, so I make it my passion to ensure students know there are relatives here on campus.”

In her time at the university, Attakai has worked in different roles with tribal communities, from cancer education and training to outreach and recruiting Native American students to go into health professions. At the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, Attakai oversees a program designed to support and empower Native Americans with disabilities. 

Attakai’s nominations cited her service on national boards and her tireless work in support of the Native American community in her role at the university.

“While doing all this amazing work across campus and with communities, Agnes still finds time to answer calls from students who need someone to advocate for them or even just talk with them,” one nominator wrote.

Another nomination praised Attakai for always going “above and beyond.”

“Her expertise has helped cultivate many young professionals and guide students to their desired career pathway,” the nomination letter read. “She is our ultimate supportive relative who offers help when it’s not requested.”