In spring of 2015, Joseph Locklear ’17 was chosen in a nationwide competition as one of 50 Udall Scholars, and also became Carolina’s first American Indian recipient. The Udall Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, named for Morris Udall and Stewart Udall to honor their positive impact on this nation’s environment, public lands, and natural resources, and their support of the rights and self-governance of American Indians and Alaska Natives, bestows the Udall Scholarship on sophomores and juniors committed to careers in the environment or, for American Indian and Alaskan native applicants, students pursuing health care or tribal public policy. Scholars must demonstrate leadership potential and academic achievement.
“It feels great to know I am one step closer to reaching my goal of working in health care within Native American populations,” said Joseph. “I aspire to live up to the ideals of the Udall Scholarship and have a positive influence on my community.”
Joseph is from Rowland, NC and is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He plans to earn an M.D./Ph.D. and become a research physician, relying on his background and education to help build better doctor-patient relationships within Native American communities. Joseph has served as a member of the Minority Student Recruitment Committee, treasurer for the Carolina Indian Circle, and helped restore UNC-Chapel Hill’s chapter of Phi Sigma Nu, the largest Native American fraternity in the United States.
Read more about Joseph here.
