Dylan Baca CC’25 named 2024 - 2025 Udall Scholar

Congratulations to Dylan Baca CC’25, who has been named a 2024 - 2025 Udall Scholar!

Originally from Pinetop, Arizona, Dylan Baca CC’25 is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and White Mountain Apache Tribe. Growing up as a member of the Navajo nation, Dylan felt keenly attuned to the social, economic, and political obstacles faced by indigenous peoples. As a leader, advocate, supporter, and advisor within Indian Country, Dylan has served as Chairman of both the Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative Board of Trustees, where he contributes to policy development alongside tribal leaders, state lawmakers, federal policymakers, and officials on Indigenous issues within Arizona and across the United States, and within the Arizona Human Trafficking Prevention Committee, where he has worked to ensure students and educators are knowledgeable about the warning signs, prevention, and effects of human trafficking. Through his work and advocacy, Dylan has also contributed to Arizona’s recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the U.S. Federal recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day from President Biden, work on uranium mining clean-up efforts, and the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act.

As a Kluge Scholar within Columbia College, Dylan plans to major in political science and American studies. In the future, he hopes to continue to build pathways for future opportunities and generations of Indigenous people, and it is his deep-seated commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges facing Native American communities that motivated him to pursue the Udall Scholarship this year.

Each year the Udall Scholars Undergraduate program aims to identify and support up to 80 future leaders in environmental, Tribal public policy, and health care fields. The scholarship was established to honor the legacies of Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources. The newest class of Udall Scholars includes 55 named scholars and 55 Honorable Mentions, who were selected from 406 candidates nominated by 192 colleges and universities across the United States. In addition to the scholarship, each selected scholar will participate in an orientation program in Arizona this August, and receive access to a mentoring network of environmental and health and tribal policy professionals and mentors within the Native American community.

Students can learn more about the Udall Scholarship and other fellowship offerings through the Undergraduate Research & Fellowships Office.