Brenna Yellowthunder ’17: A Leader for Change & Justice

Brenna (Two Bears) Yellowthunder ’17 made a lasting impact at Whitman College with a passion for art history and social justice. As the founder of the Indigenous Peoples Education and Culture Club (IPECC), Yellowthunder organized student events and activism and developed a commitment to community organizing. Today, Yellowthunder uplifts Native voices as Lead Coordinator for the Indigenous Environmental Network, providing logistical support to a grassroots network of Indigenous activists focused on environmental, energy, climate and economic justice issues.

“My love for community organizing flourished while I was at Whitman. When I founded IPECC, I organized my first rally, my first march, and it launched me to my current job.
”

Brenna’s Pathway

2013 | Admitted to Whitman

as a recipient of the Robert Jack Williams Music Award and Ho-Chunk Nation Scholarship

2014–2017 | Worked as a Collections and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Assistant

at the Maxey Museum

2014–2017 | Performed in the Whitman Orchestra

2014 | Founded the Indigenous Peoples Education and Culture Club

and served as its first President

Summer 2014 | Completed an Education Internship

with the Mathers Museum of World Culture at Indiana University

Summer 2015 | Completed a Native American Undergraduate Museum Fellowship

at the Minnesota Historical Society

2016–2017 | Received the Lomen-Douglas and Rachel K. Rall scholarships

Spring 2016 | Studied abroad

at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England

2017 | Worked as a Research Assistant

for Lisa Uddin, Associate Professor of Art History and Paul Garett Fellow

May 2017 | Graduated from Whitman

with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Visual Culture

Summer 2017 | Completed a Higher Education Internship

with the Heritage Preservation (Ho-Chunk Nation)

2017–2018 | Completed the Anne Raye Internship

at the School for Advanced Research, Indian Arts Research Center

2018–2019 | Completed the Lifchez/Stronach Curatorial Internship

at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

2018–2023 | Worked as a Consultant Associate for Live Oak Consulting,

a Native-owned museum consulting service

2020–2022 | Worked as a Communications Associate for Climate Access,

a global network of climate and clean energy communicators

2022 | Hired by Indigenous Environmental Network,

where she now works as Lead Coordinator for the Keep It In the Ground program

Upward Pathways. Our alumni’s diverse student experiences and career paths showcase the transformative power of a Whitman education. Find other Upward Pathways.