Hailing from the Red Lake Nation in northern Minnesota, political science major Karen Guise has direct experience—and a personal stake—in advocating for Indigenous communities. In high school, she was a member of the Minnesota Youth Council, where she served as the sole representative for Minnesota Native youth, ensuring their perspectives were brought to the State Capitol.

Bringing that same courage and commitment to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, Guise quickly recognized a familiar need.

“When I first started at the University of Minnesota, I didn’t always see people who looked like me in leadership roles or decision-making spaces,” she says. “But I kept showing up, asked questions, and found the courage to advocate not just for myself, but for my community.”

Education in action

In the spring of 2024, Guise interned at the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she gained invaluable insights into the legislative process.

“It was my first time inside the Capitol in a professional role, and it completely changed how I view government,” she says.

The internship solidified her resolve to ensure that Indigenous voices are at the table during the policymaking process, she says.

This experience led her to pursue a semester-long exchange at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo through the National Student Exchange (NSE) program. As an Indigenous student, she sought to learn from another Native community and understand how they navigate political systems, cultural identity, and sovereignty.

Beyond her coursework on restorative justice, she connected with the local community, learning firsthand how Native Hawaiian communities organize, resist, and lead.

“I learned that Indigenous resistance looks different in every place, but it’s rooted in the same values—land, language, and people,” she says. “I also left with a better understanding of how culture and governance are deeply intertwined.”

Community-focused future

Guise’s experiences during her time at the University of Minnesota have prepared her for an ambitious future. Now a fourth-year student in the College of Liberal Arts, Guise hopes to attend law school after graduation to study federal Indian law and public policy, with the goal of working in Washington, D.C. Long term, she aspires to become a U.S. senator, creating laws that reflect the needs of Native Nations.

“Everything I do is rooted in bringing knowledge and resources back to my community,” she says, highlighting her focus on areas like youth empowerment, food sovereignty, and mental health.

For Guise, every opportunity, including her minor in leadership, has been a chance to grow and become a more intentional and empathetic advocate. She says her scholarships—including the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Endowed Scholarship, the Tobin and Susan Jones Scholarship, and the Charles E. Stroud Endowed Fund—have made it possible for her to focus on her education and leadership work without the constant stress of finances.

She encourages other scholarship recipients to take advantage of every opportunity.

“Scholarships open doors, but it’s up to you to walk through them,” she says. “Build relationships with your professors, get involved with organizations that align with your values, and don’t be afraid to represent where you come from.”

Support high-achieving students like Karen by making a gift to the Driven to Discover Supporting Students Fund.