lori huck

portland state university | ilíiaitchik: indigenous correspondents program (icp)

lori huck is a choctaw and cherokee graduate student at portland state university pursuing a master’s degree in geology. she holds a b.s. in homeland security from northeastern state university, with minors in criminal justice and geology, as well as a b.s. in university studies from oklahoma state university. her academic and research experience spans hydrology, geochemistry, communication science, structural geology, mineralogy, and petrology, with a primary focus on water quality issues. currently, her research centers on volcanology, where she examines volcanic hazards while integrating indigenous knowledge into scientific frameworks.

lori is passionate about bridging the gap between native culture and the geosciences. she envisions creating spaces where geology and indigenous perspectives can coexist, fostering mutual respect and understanding. recognizing that geologists often work closely with land and water without fully engaging with the cultural significance of these resources, she seeks to promote dialogue, education, and cultural awareness among scientists working on indigenous lands.
in addition to her academic work, lori is active in science and tribal advocacy. she has attended national workshops and conferences on science policy and tribal conservation, and she has met with legislators in washington, d.c., to advocate for science funding and supportive legislation.

she has demonstrated strong leadership throughout her academic career. while at oklahoma state university, lori served as president and social media chair of the association for women geoscientists (awg), vice president and secretary of the society for the advancement of chicanos and native americans in science (sacnas), and outreach chair for the american indian science and engineering society (aises). she also served nationally as the aises region 4 student representative. her contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including osu aises chapter member of the year (2022) and the boone pickens school of geology student service award (2023).