Linda Best Photo Mann finds most challenging role as adviser to MSU president by Carol Schmidt · MSU Communications Services Henrietta Mann is accustomed to breaking barriers. But Mann says the most challenging task she's had in her eventful life is serving as an adviser to MSU President Gamble. "This has been the most challenging job in my career and also the job where I hope I make the greatest contribution," said Mann, who retired in June at the age of 69 as the holder of the MSU Endowed Chair in Native American Studies. A few days later, she began her appoint-ment as a special adviser to President Gamble. "I'm happy and the job keeps me young. It's exceptionally gratifying that there is a president at MSU who has demonstrated the kind of commitment to Native American Studies that will combat horrible statistics that face us as Indian people." Mann is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma who was raised in rural Oklahoma during the Depression. At age five, she convinced the Indian agent on her reservation that she should attend school. Eventually, Mann earned a doctorate in American Studies from the University of New Mexico. She has taught at several institutions ranging from Haskell Indian Nations University to Harvard. She came to MSU in 2000. Prior to that time, she was a professor at the University of Montana, where she taught periodically since 1972. She has won scores of awards, including Rolling Stone magazine's Honor Roll of Ten Top Professors Nationwide. She has been a consultant on Indian affairs a well as Cheyenne culture for numerous films, movies and television productions. Mann also is an Indian spiritual leader who has been invited to speak around the world. She was the first Indian to bless Ground Zero and recently was allowed to go beyond the barriers to walk on the grounds of Stonehenge. There currently are 250-300 American Indian students at MSU. In the Indian tradition, most of them call her "grandmother." She said the MSU staff works very hard for high retention and graduation rates for Indian students, which will continue to be her focus. In addition to more Indian students on campus, she'd like to see more Indian programs on campus as well as more Native American faculty, staff and administrators. "We need services to support American Indian students, such as tutoring and assistance so they can stay in school all the way to graduation," Mann said. "It's very significant that MSU has a master's program in Native American Studies," Mann said. "We are an institution that works to recruit and to educate Native American students in Montana." Mann said she is passionate about her work--recognizing the integrity of the individual as well as promoting diversity. "I've worked my entire life, but I expect to live to 102 and still carry on my part of responsibility for higher education."