Diné College Puts Students First at 2026 Fall Convocation
TSAILE, Ariz. Sharonna Yazzie-John, Vice President of Finance and Administration at Diné College, urged faculty and staff to keep students at the center of every decision during the 2026 Fall Convocation on August 10, 2026, in Tsaile.
Yazzie-John shared her plans for the new academic year. She said her division would focus on fiscal stewardship, budget transparency, and stronger teamwork across the college. She oversees Finance & Accounting, Research, Innovation & Practice, and Information Technology.
“We always start with the student,” Yazzie-John said. “Our operational decisions are always geared toward student success. We think about it through a student lens.” Yazzie-John has served in the college community for eight years. She explained that her team follows the Diné philosophy and works as “one team” to guide its work.
She outlined two main priorities for the year. The first was fiscal stewardship. This included clear budgets, timely reconciliations, responsible handling of contracts and public funds, and careful grant management. Yazzie-John said she wanted to hold herself and her team accountable. “I want to hold myself accountable as far as providing transparency,” Yazzie-John said.
The second priority was organizational alignment and execution. Yazzie-John emphasized accurate records, budget visibility, and complete grant close-outs. She said her team hoped to build stronger partnerships with faculty and principal investigators. These partnerships would give students more chances to take part in research at the college.
She also pointed to the college’s information technology goals. These included shared access, reliable equipment, and stronger security across campus systems.
Yazzie-John invited the entire college community to learn and improve together. She asked staff to raise risks early and to bring solutions, not just problems. She encouraged everyone to share knowledge across finance, research, IT, faculty, staff, and students. Yazzie-John closed her remarks with a call for unity. “Let’s rebuild Diné College as one institution, as one team,” Yazzie-John said. The Fall Convocation marked the start of a new academic year at Diné College.
About Diné College
Diné College is the first tribally controlled and accredited collegiate institution in the United States. Founded to serve the Navajo Nation, the college integrates Diné values, language, and culture with rigorous academic study, preparing students to thrive in their communities and beyond. Through a commitment to student success, cultural identity, and lifelong learning, Diné College advances educational opportunity grounded in the principles of Sa’ąh Naagháí Bik’eh Hózhóón.
