TULSA, Okla. – “Talent is one thing but perseverance is something else and Sterlin can speak to both.”
That was only part of what Dr. Jeff Van Hanken, the head of the Film Studies department at the University of Tulsa, had to say about Sterlin Harjo, the acclaimed director of the series Reservation Dogs and the film Rez Ball.
Harjo, who is a citizen of the Seminole Nation and has Muscogee heritage, has been announced as an upcoming professor and visiting artist. It was reported that he will also serve as an affiliate faculty member in the Film Studies department through 2026.
Sterlin Harjo has a history with the University of Tulsa and its staff. Most recently, he spoke at a Presidential Lecture Series event in 2022, and previously, he had worked with Dr. Van Hanken when he was attending the University of Oklahoma as a student.
Van Hanken is proud of Harjoand hopes that Sterlin will provide encouragement by showing that he has also been in the studentsposition in the past.
“In addition to being very talented, Sterlin worked hard for his opportunities,”Dr. Van Hanken said. “Very few, if any, of our students have connections in the film and entertainment industries.”
“Sterlin knows where they’re coming from and he can relate to their anxiety.”
According to Dr. Van Hanken, Sterlin Harjo will not be the last Indigenous scholar and professional to work withTU.The department hopes to work with other Indigenous people across Oklahoma, as shown by their adoption of classes which teach the Mvskoke language.
“Sterlin’s appointment is very much a part of the college’s larger strategy to expand research and teaching opportunities for indigenous scholars,” Dr. Van Hanken said. “The faculty and administration at TU know that the university’s history is directly intertwined with Oklahoma’s tribal histories.”
Those who wish to learn more about the University of Tulsa’s Film Studies department can find more information here on their website.
