New Director Heads Native American Student Services At Colorado State University
Thursday, July 9, 1998
FORT COLLINS--The new director of Native American Student
Services at Colorado State University knows what perseverance is
all about.
Beverly Fenton, who started her duties in mid-June, was a
single parent, a nontraditional student and the first member of
her family to attend college when she decided in 1989 to complete
her education at Eastern Illinois University. Over the course of
her accelerated college career - she received a bachelor's degree
in sociology in 1990 and a master's degree in counseling and
student administration in 1991 - she received straight A's.
She plans to put her personal and professional experiences
to work in her new job at Native American Student Services, where
students can find a wealth of services, support and counseling.
Fenton, who previously had worked for seven years at the
University of Utah, said she applied for the job here because she
wanted to work again with Native American students.
"For the past year I ran a statewide program that helped
minorities develop math, engineering and science skills," she
said. "But I really missed working with students in all facets of
higher education. I think the university offers a wonderful
environment for students to grow and discover their special
interests."
From 1991-1997, Fenton was Native American student adviser
at the University of Utah, where she was responsible for
developing and implementing student retention plans, academic
advising and counseling and internship and volunteer programs.
Fenton was born and raised in a small town in central
Illinois. After high school, she started college but left to
pursue other interests. She moved for a year to an old miner's
cabin about 17 miles north of Fairbanks in Alaska, and it proved
to be an experience that renewed her life.
"I had a difficult time finding a real purpose for going to
school because I was not certain what I wanted to do," she said.
"Alaska was cold and remote but it was the most glorious place in
the world. The experience helped me find my identity and purpose
as a native person, which is one reason I feel I have a lot to
give this office.
"Many students say they don't know what to do, what studies
to pursue, but I think the answer is to allow them enough room to
explore all the options and decide for themselves what truly
interests them."
Fenton is from the Chippewa tribe and is a member of the
Multicultural Committee of the American College Personnel
Association, the Phi Delta Kappa Honorary Education Society and
the National Indian Education Association.
Her husband, David Fenton, died in 1987; her son, Kyle
Fenton, is 18 years old.
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