Charlotte Davidson
Director, Native American House
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Professional Bio
Dr. Charlotte E. Davidson is Diné and a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. She is the daughter of Nora (Yazzie) Wilkinson and the late Wilbur D. Wilkinson, Sr. Her maternal grandparents are Sally (Manygoats) Yazzie and Kee Horseherder-Yazzie. Her paternal grandparents are Molly (Wolf) Wilkinson and Ernest P. Wilkinson. Concerning kinship relations, she is of the Tó'aheedlíinii (Water Flows Together), born for the Waterbuster People. Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Kinłichíi’nii (Red House), and her paternal grandfather is the Flint Knife clan.
She earned her B.A. degree in American Indian Studies from Haskell Indian Nations University, followed by both an M.Ed degree and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As Director of the Native American House at Illinois, she provides visionary leadership that fosters meaningful partnerships across academic institutions, tribal communities, and organizations. Her work informs national best practices and advances student success through culturally grounded, community-centered approaches. Dr. Davidson presents nationally on Indigenous higher education, matrilineal pedagogies, and place-based relationalities, and has written and co-authored chapters in several influential texts.
At Illinois, Dr. Davidson was the recipient of the 2025 Student Affairs Outstanding New Staff Award and the 2025 Student Affairs Inclusive Excellence Staff Award. She also developed two Student Affairs–recognized programs: the Native American House Ambassador Program (2025 Outstanding Program Social Justice Award) and the Indigenous Modality Making Collective (2024 Outstanding Assessment Program Award). She was recently recognized as a 2026 NASPA Pillar of the Profession, an honor that recognizes distinguished leaders in student affairs who exemplify enduring professional excellence and meaningful service contributions, including engagement in knowledge creation.
She earned her B.A. degree in American Indian Studies from Haskell Indian Nations University, followed by both an M.Ed degree and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As Director of the Native American House at Illinois, she provides visionary leadership that fosters meaningful partnerships across academic institutions, tribal communities, and organizations. Her work informs national best practices and advances student success through culturally grounded, community-centered approaches. Dr. Davidson presents nationally on Indigenous higher education, matrilineal pedagogies, and place-based relationalities, and has written and co-authored chapters in several influential texts.
At Illinois, Dr. Davidson was the recipient of the 2025 Student Affairs Outstanding New Staff Award and the 2025 Student Affairs Inclusive Excellence Staff Award. She also developed two Student Affairs–recognized programs: the Native American House Ambassador Program (2025 Outstanding Program Social Justice Award) and the Indigenous Modality Making Collective (2024 Outstanding Assessment Program Award). She was recently recognized as a 2026 NASPA Pillar of the Profession, an honor that recognizes distinguished leaders in student affairs who exemplify enduring professional excellence and meaningful service contributions, including engagement in knowledge creation.
Institution/Organization
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
General Member