Karen Medville, Ph.D. (Cherokee)
Karen K. Medville, Ph.D. (Cherokee)
Karen Medville (Cherokee) earned an Associates of Science degree (1982) in Biology from Pikes Peak Community College, a Bachelors of Liberal Arts degree (1985) in Biology from the Colorado College, and a Masters of Science degree (1988) in Physiology and Biophysics from Colorado State University. During 1989-1995, Karen pursued her doctoral degree at Cornell University where she majored in Environmental Toxicology and minored in Pathology and Pharmacology, worked with the Akwesasne Mohawk Environmental Division and the New York State Department of Health Superfund group to assess PCB contamination issues at the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, and taught for the American Indian Program, focusing her lectures on Toxic Issues, Risk Assessment, and the impact of Environmental Racism on American Indian communities. In 1995, Karen was honored by the Friends of Ganondagan at the Native American Women’s Recognition Event for her outstanding contribution in educational and professional services, outstanding contribution to Native American culture, and for being a role model for all Native American people. Karen was also filmed for a PBS documentary focusing on her lead poisoning research and educational outreach work with Native children and communities. The documentary, “BreakThrough: The Changing Face of Science in America” aired nationally in 1996 on PBS.
From 1995-2004, Karen worked as a faculty member, community-based research scientist, and Director of the American Indian Environmental Health Sciences Community Outreach Program at Arizona State University West, where she taught Environmental Toxicology, Toxic Exposures and Human Health Effects, Critical Thinking and Writing for Biology, and Basic Pharmacology in the Department of Life Sciences. She also developed community-based service learning internships for students. Karen served as a faculty advisor and mentor to minority students from the Maricopa community colleges that enrolled in her independent study courses through the Bridges to Biomedical Careers Program. Using a community-based scientific approach to promote health, safety, and environmental justice, Karen provided educational outreach to American Indian communities (youth and adults), and focused on the human and environmental health issues of specific concern on tribal lands. She empowered tribes to develop the means of documenting and monitoring for themselves the chemical contaminants in their environment. Karen’s well-known dedication to diversity led to numerous awards from students and administrators. Karen’s community-based science and educational outreach to the Arizona tribes began by building a partnership with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. She was awarded a $250,000 Environmental Justice Community/University Partnership Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and served as the principal investigator for this two-year EJ initiative. The Tribal Lands Environmental Assessment Project combined education, environmental assessment, and on-site hands-on training of tribal environmental specialists in the use of field equipment to test for lead and pesticide contaminants on tribal lands. Karen was also awarded two EPA grants to work with the Colorado River Indian Tribes. The Blood Lead Screening Project and Lead Education Outreach Project were designed to test reservation children under the age of five, and pregnant mothers for lead poisoning, while educating the community about the adverse health effects of lead contamination. Another toxic issue she addressed involved potential exposure of the Colorado River Indian Tribes to a chemical contaminant from solid jet fuel (ammonium perchlorate) found in the Colorado River. As an environmental contaminant, perchlorate can potentially cause hypothyroidism, and adverse neurological and reproductive effects. As a university liaison and science advisor to tribes, Karen was actively involved in addressing environmental justice issues at the local, regional, and national levels.
In 1999, Karen received a National Outstanding Alumni Award from the American Association of Community Colleges, for her exemplary contributions in her chosen professional career field, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Sciences Degree, honoris causa, from Colorado College for her academic, professional, and personal achievements, as well as exemplifying the best tradition of a liberal arts education. Karen has served a four-year term (1996-2000) on the American Indian Science and Engineering Society Board of Directors, a two-year term on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Work Group on Cumulative Risks/Impacts, and a six-year term (2000-2006) on the Colorado College Board of Trustees.
After returning to the Colorado Springs community in 2004 to assist with family care giving, Karen’s passion for working with American Indian youth, families, and communities led her to become a counselor/educator for Native American Youth, ages 11-21, in the Medicine Bear Program at Southern Peaks Regional Treatment Center where she currently works as the American Indian Program Coordinator.