Savannah Slayton

About Savannah Slayton

Savannah is a Citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a third-generation Filipino-American woman hailing from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is a first-generation high school graduate and first-generation college student at the University of Oklahoma with a high school diploma from Northwest Classen High School. Savannah is currently in her fourth year of college, majoring in Political Science with minors in Native American Studies and Constitutional Studies. She is an active advocate for Indian Country through her research and is passionate about civics education and improving the quality of education in Oklahoma through all her endeavors. She currently works in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs under the National Hydropower Compliance Program in the Division of Water and Power. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Generation Citizen. Her endeavors include conducting research about the historical intentions of American education and understanding the ongoing legacy of settler colonialism on Oklahoma education. In addition to her independent projects, she has also worked in various assistantships, including one with her faculty mentor on a project related to truth-telling of boarding schools, where we understand how the tribal nations want their history related to the Federal Indian Boarding School System to be taught, as well as doing oral histories to understand the impact of boarding schools on Oklahoma. Additionally, she has worked under Dr. Sarah Reckhow with Michigan State University on a project that focused on congressional attention to K-12 education. Savannah has participated in many fellowships and internship opportunities, such as the Mellon Impact Fellowship, Global Engagement Fellowship, Ewing Public Service Fellowship, Capitol Scholars Program, Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Fellowship, and so much more. Savannah is also a Henderson Scholar, President’s Leadership Class 62 alum, McNair Scholar, Withrow Leadership Scholar, etc. She takes pride in her Native identity and enjoys spending time with her Native community on campus, such as her sorority, Gamma Delta Pi, which is the only Native Women’s sorority at the University of Oklahoma, and the American Indian Student Association. Although Savannah is high-achieving academically, she is also an overachiever older sibling. Savannah is the eldest of five children and comes from a single-parent household where she continues to be an example of what a strong woman and leader looks like.

Experience

1. Generation Citizen National Board of Directors

   Generation Citizen

   Jun 2022 — Present

   As a board member for Generation Citizen, I act as a youth voice for young people participating or who have yet to participate in their democracy. I started with the Oklahoma Generation Citizen and held many events and registration drives for youth. I have advocated for civics education as well. As a board member I work in all the national board work including logistics and working with all GC states.

Education

• Northwest Classen High School

  High School Diploma

  2018 — 2022

• University of Oklahoma

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science