In a ceremony that blended personal reflection, academic tradition, and Indigenous ceremonial practices, honoring both the institution’s future and its complex past, Fort Lewis College formally invested Heather J. Shotton, Ph.D., as its 11th president last week.
An enrolled citizen of the Wichita & Affiliated Tribes and a descendant of the Kiowa and Cheyenne Tribes. Her investiture acknowledged Fort Lewis College’s mission as a Native American‑Serving, Non‑Tribal Institution, as well as its history as a former federal Indian boarding school.
“This is an exciting and proud moment for Fort Lewis College,” said Janet Lopez, chair of the Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees.
“President Shotton’s investiture reflects the energy, possibility, and shared purpose that define this campus today. Her leadership invites us to move forward together — building on tradition, strengthening community, and shaping a future grounded in belonging, opportunity, and hope.”
Traditions, new and old
Held in Whalen Gymnasium, the ceremony opened with a blessing from Cheyenne Peace Chief Gordon Yellowman and featured ceremonial elements that honored Tribal Nations and traditions. The Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society presented flags and the Otoe‑Missouria Singers performed.
During the ceremony, Shotton was wrapped in a blanket, an expression of honor, offering warmth, protection, and strength for the journey ahead. She also was honored with the giving of lei, a sacred tradition in Native Hawaiian culture representing love, respect, and relationship.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers highlighted Shotton’s student‑centered leadership, scholarly background, and commitment to accessible and inclusive higher education.
“President Shotton has made it clear that students are at the very center of this institution,” said Kathryn Paul, president of the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College. “Her leadership reflects both vision and heart, and ensures that students from all backgrounds are heard, seen, and respected.”
Faculty Senate President David Blake reflected on Shotton’s academic path, from undergraduate and doctoral studies at the University of Oklahoma to tenured professor, department chair, vice president of diversity affairs at Fort Lewis College, and ultimately president. He also drew laughter by referencing her well‑known blue and yellow Nike sneakers.
“She has walked in our shoes as faculty members,” Blake said. “Under her leadership, Fort Lewis College’s mission will not only endure, it will flourish.”
A leadership journey shaped by people
Three longtime friends and colleagues spoke about Shotton’s leadership across institutions and moments of complexity.
“She leads with clarity, courage, and care,” said David Surratt, vice president for student affairs at the University of Oklahoma. “She doesn’t lead at people. She leads with them.”
Shelly Lowe, president of the Institute of American Indian Arts, said she has seen firsthand how Shotton confronts difficult histories and complex moments. As higher education grapples with questions of relevance, trust, access, and responsibility, and as colleges are being asked to imagine new futures, Lowe pointed to Shotton’s willingness to carry the full weight of Fort Lewis College’s past while still leading boldly toward what comes next. 
Noting that Shotton has never hesitated to take on uncertainty or accountability, she noted that Shotton “finds strength to continue to encourage others to walk, to run swiftly, and even to fly.”
"This is the kind of leader Dr. Shotton is. She is always one part of the whole, who works side by side with colleagues, encouraging everyone to bring their strengths into that work of infinite possibilities. "
Former Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees member Ernest House Jr. recalled Shotton’s arrival during a period of institutional reckoning.
“She immediately knew what was needed,” House said, referencing the college’s reconciliation plan focused on Tribal Nation building, health and wellness, Indigenous culture and language, and language revitalization. “In a world full of uncertainties, we need more leaders like President Shotton.”
During the ceremony, Lopez formally charged Shotton with the responsibilities of the presidency and presented her with the presidential medallion, symbolizing the authority and trust of the office.
A family moment
Before delivering her remarks, Shotton was introduced by her daughters, Sophie and Sloan. 
Sloan spoke about her mother’s willingness to be the first.
“First in her family to graduate from college, first to go to grad school, and sometimes one of the only Natives in certain higher education spaces,” Sloan said. “But more importantly, she’s made sure to create paths for others.”
“She’s shown me what perseverance looks like, what resilience looks like, and what it means to believe in something bigger than yourself,” added Sloan, a Fort Lewis College alumna.
Sophie echoed that sentiment.
“She has always shown me how powerful education can be — not just in the classroom, but in shaping lives, opening doors, and building community,” she said.
Writing history
As Shotton took the stage, the gym fell quiet. She thanked faculty and staff for centering students and reflected on how her leadership was shaped by mentors, colleagues, students, and family.
“None of our stories are written alone,” Shotton said. “I can’t tell my own without acknowledging the many people who have helped me to write mine.”
She spoke of growing up in a small town in Oklahoma as a first-generation college student and of her mother’s sacrifices.
“She made stubbornness an art form,” Shotton said, smiling. “Because giving up simply was not an option. Mom, you modeled tenacity, strength, and what it means to show up for others. Those lessons have stayed with me in every space I’ve entered.”
Shotton also reflected on FLC’s complicated past and its promising future.
“As a former federal Indian boarding school, Fort Lewis was part of a system designed to erase Indigenous identity and undo Tribal Nations,” Shotton said. “And yet today, I stand before you as a testament to the strength and resiliency of Indigenous people, of people who refused to disappear.”
Focused on the future
Describing the college as small, but mighty, and a little scrappy, Shotton said the future of FLC is centered around its students; those balancing work, family, identity, and ambition.
"One of the things I love about higher education is the hope it represents, its transformative power to create new possibilities,” Shotton said. “Together, we have an opportunity to shape what comes next. To build on the strength of this institution and its people. To honor its history while creating a bold, more just vision for the future,” she said.
“As I step into this role, I do so with humility and deep gratitude. With an understanding that this work is rooted in community. And our collective responsibility to continue building something better for future generations.”
Celebrating access and excellence
The themes of access, opportunity, and shared responsibility extended beyond the ceremony.
On Friday evening, community members, alumni, donors, and campus leaders gathered for an investiture gala benefiting Strengthen the Promise, a Fort Lewis College initiative aimed at raising $500,000 for student scholarships.
In her address, Shotton emphasized FLC’s commitment to providing access and supporting students throughout every step of their college journeys.
Drawing from her experience as a parent, Shotton spoke about the responsibility institutions carry to create meaningful opportunity, sharing the story of a first-generation student she has come to know over the past year. She talked about the critical impact of financial support on his academic journey, sharing that this student will graduate in May and continue to graduate studies.
“That’s just one story of many,” she said, highlighting that scholarships are central to opening doors, creating access, and doing things differently to support student success, work that is only possible because of donor support.
“Our ability to support students depends on your support,” Shotton said. “It determines whether a student can be here, whether they can thrive, and whether they can graduate and return to their communities to do the good, hard work we need them to do.”
Shotton thanked everyone who participated in the events and reflected on how the ceremony had been marked by a deep commitment to keeping students at the center of everything FLC does.
“What really stayed with me throughout that ceremony was truly the power of community, the strength that you all bring to this place, the love that you have for Fort Lewis College,” she said. “This work only happens because people show up the way that you have."