Biography

Boozhoo! My name is Nii Mahliaire and I am proudly enrolled in the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior (Ojibwe). I grew up in Northern Minnesota, surrounded by a wonderful community and traditional Indigenous values. After graduating from Bemidji State University with a B.S. in Mass Communication and a B.F.A. in Creative and Professional Writing, I decided to pursue doctoral studies in the Communication and Media Studies Program at the University of Oregon. My focus is in Health Communication, specifically examining various messaging modes such as EPPM, sympathetic narrative, and lived-experience frameworks regarding recovery resources for SUD and OUD. My decision to pursue this research was prompted by a personal experience - my mother's relapse from OUD and her subsequent passing. I wanted to explore ways that I could help people facing similar situations, and found that there was a gap in knowledge regarding how to effectively communicate with family members about the disease. Although various messaging modes have been tested, there has yet to be a comprehensive cross-analysis to determine which is the most beneficial. The University of Oregon stood out to me for many reasons, one of which was the freedom I was given to explore different approaches to my research. I was also drawn to the area for its familiarity - Eugene is a larger city than I am used to, but it's still relatively quiet and peaceful, which I knew I needed while going through my studies. Additionally, I had visited the Pacific Northwest with my grandma's family a few times before, and had grown to love the area. In addition to my studies, I also teach Indigenous youth to critically look at technology through a cultural lens. We explore ways that technology can be used and adapted to our environment, and discuss topics such as surveillance, privacy, social bubbles and echo chambers, and social media literacy. As part of the lessons, we look at traditional stories and their modern interpretations.

Education 

University of Oregon - Ph.D., Communication and Media Studies Expected 2024

Bemidji State Unviersity - B.S. Mass Communication 2018                                                             

Bemidji State University - B.F.A. Creative and Professional Writing 2018  

McNair Scholar                 

Honors & Awards

The Auntie Way Writing Retreat, UO Division of Graduate Studies

Columbia Scholarship, University of Oregon

Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Program, Bemidji State University

Student of the Year, Integrated Media Department, Bemidji State University

Star Tribune Scholarship, Bemidji State University

Paul V. Boswell Scholarship, Bemidji State University

McMahon Scholarship, Bemidji State University

Student Success Scholarship, Bemidji State University

Research Interests 

Public Relations, Stategic Communication, Health Communication

Boozhoo! My name is Nii Mahliaire and I am proudly enrolled in the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior (Ojibwe). I grew up in Northern Minnesota, surrounded by a wonderful community and traditional Indigenous values. After graduating from Bemidji State University with a B.S. in Mass Communication and a B.F.A. in Creative and Professional Writing, I decided to pursue doctoral studies in the Communication and Media Studies Program at the University of Oregon. My focus is in Health Communication, specifically examining various messaging modes such as EPPM, sympathetic narrative, and lived-experience frameworks regarding recovery resources for SUD and OUD. My decision to pursue this research was prompted by a personal experience - my mother's relapse from OUD and her subsequent passing. I wanted to explore ways that I could help people facing similar situations, and found that there was a gap in knowledge regarding how to effectively communicate with family members about the disease. Although various messaging modes have been tested, there has yet to be a comprehensive cross-analysis to determine which is the most beneficial. The University of Oregon stood out to me for many reasons, one of which was the freedom I was given to explore different approaches to my research. I was also drawn to the area for its familiarity - Eugene is a larger city than I am used to, but it's still relatively quiet and peaceful, which I knew I needed while going through my studies. Additionally, I had visited the Pacific Northwest with my grandma's family a few times before, and had grown to love the area. In addition to my studies, I also teach Indigenous youth to critically look at technology through a cultural lens. We explore ways that technology can be used and adapted to our environment, and discuss topics such as surveillance, privacy, social bubbles and echo chambers, and social media literacy. As part of the lessons, we look at traditional stories and their modern interpretations.