photo by: Dmitry Martirosov/Journal-World

Students walks past Tecumseh Hall at Haskell Indian Nations University on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026.

There are several things students at Haskell Indian Nations University want from Alex Red Corn, the university’s newly appointed president. But among them, one stands out: consistency.

“I really just want someone that is stable enough to be there for a long term and really just give to the students, give back to the younger generations that are going to be coming in,” said Dyami Berridge, a senior studying business. “I want someone there that can express and understand what the students want.”

Berridge, who spent his entire four years at Haskell, is not alone.

“I’m hoping with Red Corn being president here at Haskell that he could maybe do more work toward having a stable staff,” said Jordan Ledesma, a sophomore. Ledesma was pursuing a communications degree but had to change course after sudden resignations at the department.

“This was unexpected for me and very shocking,” she said of the resignations. She said she hopes the communications program improves so “future students are able to complete their communications degree on time without the extra stress.” Ledesma now studies liberal arts so she could graduate on time.

Last month, Red Corn was appointed as the permanent president of Haskell. He served as interim president since January after succeeding Mackie Moore, another interim president. Moore replaced Frank Arpan, who resigned abruptly in May of last year.

Since at least 2018, Haskell has had more than half a dozen interim or longer-term leaders, and students have noticed. Now, they say, they want stability; improvements to campus would be a plus, too.

Karlie Aldrich, a third-year student, said she doesn’t know Red Corn very well. But she hopes that under his leadership, Haskell’s tradition as the nation’s oldest continually running university serving American Indian students is preserved.

“There’s so much history here, and I really hope that lives on,” Aldrich, who studies psychology, said.

Aldrich was born and raised in Lawrence. She is a third-generation Haskell student. She said her family has been around Haskell for a long time and has appreciated it as a valuable resource; she wants that resource protected, she said.

“It’s like a home — as long as it’s keeping that vibe,” Aldrich said.

But Aldrich isn’t letting her love of tradition get in the way of the future; she wants Haskell upgraded. “(The) school is a little bit behind on technology,” she said. She wants the buildings maintained, too.

photo by: Dmitry Martirosov/Journal-World

Students walk at Haskell Indian Nations University’s campus on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026.

A citizen of the Osage Nation, Red Corn’s resume includes roles as director and associate professor of indigenous studies at the University of Kansas. He served as executive director of the Kansas Association for Native American Education and chair of the Kansas Advisory Council for Indigenous Education. He received his doctorate in educational leadership from Kansas State University, where he served as junior faculty member, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social studies education from KU.

The Journal-World sent multiple requests for interview with Red Corn, but has not heard back.

Red Corn is well-liked by faculty and staff at Haskell, said David Titterington, an art professor at the university. He said that even before Red Corn was appointed, most of the faculty supported him for the role.

“We were all glad to hear the news,” said Titterington, who has been at Haskell for 10 years.

“I love what he’s doing so far,” he said of Red Corn. “He has a great spirit. The students seem to really like him. I’m really excited about him.”

Berridge, the senior, agreed.

“I know he’s a good person. I know he’s level-headed,” Berridge said. “Faculty and everyone else around here speaks highly of him.”

Berridge has witnessed the leadership changes at Haskell throughout his four years at the school, but his experience didn’t suffer, he said. He said he had a good relationship with Moore, who knew him before Berridge enrolled at Haskell.

Hehaka Frazier, a sophomore at Haskell, also heard positive things being said of the school’s new permanent leader.

“I hear that he’s really trying to make Haskell just better for students,” Frazier said.

Like Aldrich, Frazier supports improvements to campus, but she also wants the school’s longstanding tradition maintained.

“Balancing both worlds,” Frazier said.

photo by: Dmitry Martirosov/Journal-World

A student walks past Hiawatha Hall at Haskell Indian Nations University on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026.