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ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University’s Dr. Amber Henderson has won a Sanford Faculty Professional Development Award for her research project, “Perceptions of Entrepreneurship: An Exploratory Study Applied to Lakota Cultures.”

Henderson said her research aims to identify the perception of entrepreneurship among people of the Oceti Sakowin (People of Seven Council Fires, known to some as the Great Sioux Nation). She will virtually present the conceptual framework for the project at the International Conference on Ethnic Entrepreneurship and Ethnic Identity (London) on Nov. 18-19, 2021.

Henderson, NSU Associate Professor of Marketing/Management, said she has been interested in this topic for many years, but has only just begun the process of data collection and analysis.

“I’m a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (located in northern North Dakota), and have always been interested what theories/textbooks state versus how things play out in different contexts…specifically through an Indigenous lens,” she said. “However, after going through a program with the Native Governance Center a few years ago, I began to really rethink standard approaches to Native Nation Rebuilding. In particular, I took a direct interest in the consideration of Indigenous culture and values as a fundamental role and key asset of topics such as Tribal government systems/processes and economic development.”

Her long-term, overall goal of the project, she said, is to identify how cultural values and entrepreneurship education might affect entrepreneurship intentions of the Oceti Sakowin.

Henderson came to Northern in August 2015 and is now in her seventh academic year with the NSU School of Business.

For others looking to get started in research, Henderson has this advice: “Research something you’re passionate about that might bring worth to someone else. Talk about your research ideas with other people, especially those who won’t necessarily agree with you. Seek experts in the field and solicit their feedback. For my particular interest, there are experts in organizations such as Native CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions) which have exceptional first-hand experience working with entrepreneurs.”

To learn more about Faculty Research at Northern, including the Sanford Faculty Professional Development Award, visit NSU Scholarly Faculty.

About Northern State University

Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.