Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ¸ßÇåÎÞשÂëÇø

Heather J. Shotton, Ph.D., is a nationally recognized leader in higher education with more than two decades of experience in student success, academic leadership, and institutional administration.  

An enrolled citizen of the Wichita & Affiliated Tribes and a descendant of the Kiowa and Cheyenne Tribes, Shotton serves as the Vice President of Diversity Affairs at Fort Lewis College (FLC), where she provides strategic leadership in advancing access, belonging, and student success across campus. She recently expanded her leadership portfolio as Acting Dean of Student Engagement, overseeing student-facing programs and initiatives that support student well-being and retention. 

Shotton’s career has spanned small liberal arts colleges and large public research universities, equipping her with a deep understanding of institutional governance and student-centered education.  

Before joining FLC, she was Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma, where she led faculty development, academic curriculum, and strategic planning for the department. A dedicated scholar and professor, her research focuses on Indigenous education and student success. 

Shotton is a leading expert in her field. She has served in key roles with national organizations, including the National Indian Education Association (NIEA), the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), and NASPA. As President of NIEA’s Board of Directors, she guided national policy and advocacy efforts to advance educational opportunities for Indigenous students, communities, and institutions. 

Shotton has been instrumental in developing FLC’s groundbreaking reconciliation plan—the first college-wide initiative of its kind—acknowledging and addressing the institution’s history as a former federal Indian boarding school. Her leadership has positioned Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ¸ßÇåÎÞשÂëÇøas a national model for institutions seeking to reconcile with their past while advancing equity and student success. 

As a first-generation college graduate, Shotton is a passionate advocate for the life-changing impact of higher education. She remains steadfast in her belief that FLC’s strength lies in its inclusive community and the power of higher education institutions to serve as catalysts to build communities, empower future generations, and shift local, state, and national landscapes. 

Her scholarship has been instrumental in shaping the field of higher education. She has co-edited multiple books, including Beyond the Asterisk: Understanding Native Students in Higher Education a²Ô»å Reclaiming Indigenous Research in Higher Education. Her contributions have been recognized with national awards, including the Mildred Garcia Senior Scholar Award from the Association for the Study of Higher Education and the National Indian Education Association’s Educator of the Year Award. 

Dr. Shotton’s husband, John R. Shotton, is the Chairman of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. They have two daughters: Sloan, an Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ¸ßÇåÎÞשÂëÇøalumna (Public Health, ‘24), and Sophie, a freshman at the University of Oklahoma. They also have three energetic Boston Terriers: Lucy, Odie, and Lil’ Kim.