About the Tribal Liaison
Jacob Alvarado Waipuk
Chair of Tribal Relations, Tribal Liaison, Division of Diversity and Innovation
Jacob Alvarado Waipuk (tribal member from San Pasqual Kumeyaay) is part of the Kumeyaay Nation that resides in San Diego, California. His village is called San Pasqual or Amulkulkul in the Kumeyaay language Ipai Aa, “Language of the People." The name of his clan is called Waipuk, which means “kingsnake.” The village was located originally in the San Pasqual Valley. On his father’s side, he is Lipan Apache, and Sun Clan. He graduated from San Diego State University and received a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies and studied abroad at The University of British Columbia where he focused on First Nations studies. During his time at SDSU, he was the president of the Native American Student Alliance. Jacob also teaches the Kumeyaay language, songs, and traditions of the Kumeyaay Nation. He is currently in the JDP Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership at the University of California, San Diego and Cal State University, San Marcos where he focuses his research on schooling environments for indigenous youth, and the importance of indigenous teachings. He believes it's important to have a foundation of culture and traditions to help indigenous students succeed. He wants to create a school on San Pasqual Reservation that combines Kumeyaay teachings along with California state standards, so that we can keep our traditions alive. He has worked eleven years with the youth of the San Pasqual Education Department teaching them the Kumeyaay songs, language, stories, traditions, and way of life. Everything he does is for the youth of San Pasqual, and being in higher education pursuing a Doctor of Education is all for his people so that he can bring back what he learned and create educational pathways. He is here to help guide his people on and off campus to be successful and to never forget who they are and where they come from.
