Shayla Bischoff’s formative years in Colorado Springs and Taos, New Mexico, ignited a lifelong commitment to advocating for Native and Indigenous representation and community.
The daughter of a San Carlos Apache mother and a first-generation German American father, Bischoff always knew she was Native American. However, her mother had been adopted by a white family as a baby during the 1960s scoops, severing ties with her relatives and identity. When Bischoff was 5, her mother reconnected with her tribe.
“My grandparents and elders were crying and just so happy to have her back and welcome her back into the fold,” said Bischoff. “That’s just how Native people are. When we lose somebody, we make a big deal of welcoming them back.”
From then on, Bischoff spent summers on the reservation, immersing herself in her culture and heritage.
Today, Bischoff serves as the program manager for Undergraduate Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver. In this role, she supports a number of programs, including study-abroad initiatives, the Honors Program and civic-engagement activities. However, her work goes far beyond program logistics; it’s a mission rooted in ensuring that Native students and faculty members feel seen, valued and supported on campus.
“We have a saying: ‘All my relations,’ which is pretty pan-Indigenous,” said Bischoff. “It means we’re all related, we are all connected and we acknowledge our own connectedness to each other. Working in service to others is naturally part of who I am.”
Shayla Bischoff became an advocate for the Indigenous community at MSU Denver and graduated in 2020. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Bischoff’s path to advocacy was deeply influenced by her years as an MSU Denver student. She graduated in 2020, navigating challenges that many Native and Indigenous students face: microaggressions, cultural misunderstandings and the lack of a robust support network. She was motivated, with Desiree Richards, to co-found the Native Nations Council, an employee affinity group focused on creating a safe space for Native faculty and staff members and advocating for Indigenous rights.
“We are a small, determined collective,” Bischoff said. “We vote for a spokesperson for the group, but everyone is equal, and all Native faculty and staff members are welcome.” The council’s achievements are significant, including successful support for the observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the University calendar and working to return the remains of Native and Indigenous people found in the Anthropology Department.
Bischoff hopes to position MSU Denver to achieve federal designation as a Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution. With a growing Native student population at MSU Denver, Bischoff is optimistic about the University’s potential to solidify itself as a beacon for Indigenous education in Denver. This recognition would not only validate the importance of Native students but bring essential resources to expand academic and cultural programs.
As Native Indigenous Heritage Month continues, the MSU Denver community is invited to celebrate the rich cultures and contributions of Native peoples and support the work of individuals such as Shayla Bischoff, who exemplify change through community and compassion.
