Amaranta Sokol Como (she/her) is a Senior Strategic Officer in the Office of the Vice Provost, Indigenous Engagement (OVPIE) (Saskatoon campus). Balancing a diverse portfolio while completing her doctoral research in education, Sokol Como embodies the collaborative and opportunistic nature that gives the University of Saskatchewan its highly respected reputation. She is a member of Beardy’s Okemasis Cree Nation in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan and places importance on her small-town roots. Despite completing two degrees at the University of Saskatchewan (and working on a third) she has never lived in Saskatoon, instead finding relaxation in a daily commute outside the city.
Sokol Como says she never imagined she would work in post-secondary education. She is a graduate of the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP), and originally worked in curriculum development and community engagement before finding her way to USask. Now, Sokol Como has no plans to leave. She appreciates the positive work environment more than anything. “Walking through the bowl, going to get your coffee, you see people and they’re smiling, they’re happy to be here, they’re happy to collaborate and share.”
Sokol Como started out at USask by working at the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre. She looks back fondly on the work she did on the Fitness 4U and Parent Circle programs, noting how these projects helped to provide services to students who had not previously visited the Centre. Working directly with Indigenous students to improve their experience at USask is her greatest source of pride.
Sokol Como and colleagues/classmates/friends Chantal Hanson (International Research Specialist – Health Sciences, International Office) and Emmy Stavostrand Neuls (Manager – Graduate Programs, Online Delivery at Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. They collaboratively presented their doctoral research at the Canadian Bureau for International Education Conference in Vancouver, 2023.
In her current role as a Senior Strategic Officer with OVPIE, she works on policies and partnerships across campus. Notably, she is actively working on the Oẏateki Partnership to improve the transition of Indigenous youth into post-secondary, and into careers after studying in post-secondary education (Oẏateki Partnership, 2022). She is particularly proud of the work of the OVPIE on the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin policy and how quickly the policy was able to move and benefit Indigenous students, faculty, and staff across campus. This policy provides a framework for verifying Indigenous membership and citizenship through documentation for USask students, staff, and faculty (deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin, 2022).
She recently took on a facilitation role which delivers anti-racist and anti-oppressive training to staff and faculty at USask. The focus of her MEd degree closely aligns with the skills and knowledge offered by this training. “It’s been a really cool opportunity. I think it’s one thing to present, which I’m comfortable with, but when you’re facilitating and pushing people to dig deeper and reflect on things… it’s such a skill.” Sokol Como credits her mentor, Liz Duret (Senior Consultant – Diversity and Inclusion), with providing her guidance and training in anti-racist and anti-oppressive facilitation.
Sokol Como’s current doctoral research combines both her personal passion for travel and professional drive to provide Indigenous students with the opportunity to study abroad. Her research looks at “how post-secondary institutions (such as USask) can improve their environments, programs and supports to increase success and engagement in Indigenous students in study abroad through a leadership lens.” This work will both build and support future Indigenous leaders and identifies a place for USask to grow with its international education strategy.
Her inspiration to do such important work comes from her 11-year-old son (who also happens to be her travel buddy). Showing him resilience and perseverance while improving the world for him helps her to keep going. She reminisces fondly on their recent trip to her dad’s hometown of Katowice, Poland. Getting to show her son where her dad grew up and went to school was an incredibly special experience for Sokol Como. Her drive to learn and devotion to student success encourages her to continue creating and developing spaces for Indigenous students.
Looking to the year ahead, Sokol Como “[sees] the light at the end of the tunnel” for completing her doctoral research. She is looking forward to having a clear mind and enjoying some fiction books that have had to be set aside. She’ll have more time to take her dog Okimaw (meaning chief in Cree) for walks by the river with her son. Otherwise, she is excited to soon head to Disneyland with her travel buddy for a much-deserved vacation.
Amaranta Sokol Como is an inspiring individual who is a valued ASPA member and staff member at USask, both for her work and research, and in her clear passion for what she does.
This member highlight was written by Kathryn Sawatzky, ASPA Communications & Public Relations Committee member.