Who We Are

Meet the PSU Chapter Officers

Larrita Riggs

Larrita Riggs, Coordinator
Larrita Riggs is a Child and Family Studies major, with a specialization in the Administration of Family, Youth, and Children. Larrita is Diné from the Navajo Nation. She is the second oldest of five girls. On her free time, Larrita enjoys watching The Office, riding her horse, and continuing to be an AISES advocate.

Zachary Wong

Zachary K. Wong, Officer
Zachary Kealohalaulā Wong is a Community Development major, with a specialization in Communication. Zachary is Kanaka Maoli and Wyandotte from Honolulu, Hawai’i. He is the youngest of five siblings. During his free time, Zachary enjoys photography, hiking, and being in the ocean.

Jeanette Newman

Jeanette Newman, Officer
Jeannette Newman is a Geology major with a focus in Geochemistry. Jeannette is a descendent of the Blackfeet Nation and also has heritage from the Cape Verde Islands and Mexico. She is the oldest of four children and was born an raised in San Francisco, CA. When not studying, Jeannette enjoys listening to radio shows, drawing, and beading.

Christina Uh

Christina Uh, Officer
Christina Uh is an Environmental Science major. She is Navajo and Mayan Indian from the Yucatan Peninsula. She is the oldest of two girls. When not working with the PSU AISES chapter, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking and exercising.

History

The AISES-PSU Chapter is one of 177 college and university AISES chapters in the United States and Canada. As an organization, AISES has been working since 1977 to substantially increase American Indian, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander representation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields — as students, professionals, mentors, and leaders. AISES employs a “full circle of support” model that begins with pre-college programs, progresses into collegiate life, and then into the professional years of members and on into retirement. AISES is the only professional society established by and for American Indian and Alaska Natives that specifically emphasizes lifelong learning and educational achievement by utilizing cultural aspects with STEM.