Deserea Richards, Associate Director of Native/Indigenous Student Engagement and Success, Metropolitan State University of Denver, is a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, deeply committed to serving her community as a mother, wife, aunt, sister, and daughter. Originally from Rapid City, South Dakota, her maternal roots are in the Tuthill and Martin areas, while her paternal family is from Porcupine and Kyle, South Dakota. She has called the Denver metro area home for much of the past 20 years.
For the past three years, Deserea has served as the Associate Director of Native/Indigenous Student Engagement and Success at Metropolitan State University of Denver, a role she helped advocate for alongside peers and community members. This position, the first of its kind at MSU Denver, was created to advance Native student success and strengthen institutional support for Native and Indigenous students.
Her passion is helping Native students thrive academically and personally, with the understanding that Native graduates often carry a strong desire to give back, contributing to their communities in ways that foster success, healing, and cultural continuity. Deserea’s work focuses on elevating student voices, building community both on and off campus, and creating spaces where Native students can feel connected, supported, and empowered. She also serves on MSU Denver’s Native Nations Council Affinity Group, supports restorative practices, and advocates for a robust Native American Studies program at the university.
Beyond campus, Deserea is actively engaged with the Indigenous Parent Action Committee at Cherry Creek School District, where her children attend school. She supports her children’s love of sports, including baseball, soccer, basketball, and track, and is an avid basketball fan herself (Go Nuggets!). In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing basketball and volleyball, creating beadwork, exploring new parks with her children, reading, and returning home to South Dakota to be with family.
Currently pursuing her third degree, an MSW at MSU Denver, Deserea hopes to continue her education by earning a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in the future. Above all, she is dedicated to building authentic relationships and working collaboratively with others to uplift and strengthen Native communities in Denver and beyond.