Sophomore Wins Udall Grant Focused on American Indians

Posted on April 17, 2015

Joseph E. Locklear, a sophomore at Carolina, has been awarded a Udall Scholarship to help him pursue a career in native health care, addressing the problem of addictive behaviors among tribal populations. Locklear is a member of the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina.

The award is made by the Udall Foundation, which is named for Morris Udall and Stewart Udall to honor their positive impact on the U.S.’s environment, public lands and natural resources and for their support of the rights and self-governance of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The foundation, based in Tucson, Ariz., bestows the Udall Scholarship on students committed to careers in the environment or, in the case of American Indian and Alaskan native applicants, students pursuing health care or tribal public policy. Scholars must demonstrate leadership potential and academic achievement.

Locklear is UNC’s first American Indian Udall Scholar, and he is one of 50 Udall Scholars nationwide for 2015. The recipients were chosen from among 464 candidates nominated by 222 colleges and universities. Locklear brings the number of Udall Scholarships awarded to Carolina students to 15 since their establishment in 1996. The award covers tuition, books, room and board up to $5,000 for Locklear’s junior year.

Locklear, from Rowland, aspires to become a research physician, relying on his background and education to help build better doctor-patient relationships in Native American communities and, as a result, better address addictive behaviors and preventable diseases.

As a member of UNC’s Minority Student Recruitment Committee, Locklear has served on multiple recruitment panels for prospective students and their parents, where he has shared personal stories of promoting diversity and inclusion across campus.

Locklear’s commitment to community-building and support of native peoples is illustrated by his efforts to help restore Carolina’s chapter of Phi Sigma Nu, the largest Native American fraternity in the U.S. As current treasurer for the Carolina Indian Circle, he coordinated fundraising efforts for the 28th annual powwow in March.

His overlapping interests in research science and health care led Locklear to UNC’s Science Enrichment Program last summer, where through clinical shadowing he saw a need for greater representation of Native American professionals in the health care field.

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