By Bridget Oder ’23 

Alumna Raven Manygoats ’19 says she found her passion in life thanks to her Otterbein history department professors. Not only did they teach her well, but they focused her on Native American research, something near and dear to her heart.  

Now, as a doctoral student in history at Rutgers University, Manygoats is building upon the research she began at Otterbein. Her main research focus is on Native American women in the Red Power Movement.  

“The faculty really helped me become a better historian and someone who was capable of going to graduate school and pursuing graduate studies,” Manygoats said. “They really helped me figure out what my eventual dissertation was going to be. So, they helped me along every step of the way and prepared me for the next step in my path.” 

She credits history professors Anthony DeStefanis, Deborah Solomon and Jonathan DeCoster as encouraging and helpful throughout the course of her research and in helping her apply to graduate programs.   

Along with conducting research at Otterbein, Manygoats found ways to get involved with other activities. Her main activity was as part of the editorial board for Aegis, the Otterbein Humanities Journal.   

The community aspect at Otterbein allowed Manygoats to make many memories that she will never forget. One of her favorite academic-related memories is when Winona LaDuke came to visit campus and give a talk.  

“LaDuke is one of the leading voices of indigenous environmental resistance and it was so inspiring to hear her speak,” Manygoats said. “I also had the chance to interview her for my distinction thesis. She was so incredibly kind and supportive. I am grateful to Otterbein for providing me with the opportunity to meet her.”