Indigenous Elder in Residence Program
The HRC's new Indigenous Elder-in-Residence Program, launching in Spring 2026 as part of our "On Native Ground" initiative, will bring nationally-renowned Indigenous elders to campus each spring semester to foster cultural, academic, social, and spiritual support for our students and broader campus community. Complementing our fall Karenne Wood Native Writer/Artist-in- Residence program, the week-long residency will center Indigenous knowledge and life experiences through meetings with students, faculty, and staff, classroom visits, and a concluding public event moderated by a Virginia Native community member. The program creates vital connections between VCU and Indigenous communities locally and nationally, offering mentorship opportunities for students—particularly through collaboration with our Native Student organization—while facilitating important conversations about Indigenous traditions, language revitalization, health and wellbeing, and the ongoing impacts of colonization. By creating a space where youth, adults, and elders can learn from and with one another, this initiative expands traditional boundaries of learning and strengthens our commitment to building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities as VCU continues to expand curricular, research, and community-engaged Indigenous work.
2025-26 Indigenous Elder in Residence
Robert Gray was Chief of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe from 2015 through 2024. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he served in the US Air Force for 6 years and upon discharge he attended the University of Central Arkansas earning his B.S. in Physical Therapy. Upon graduation he moved to Richmond to take a staff physical therapist position at the Medical College of Virginia. After 2 years he realized his true passion was for the Air Force and he took a position with the Virginia Air National Guard at Richmond IAP. During his 32 years of decorated military service, Robert served as an aircraft mechanic, logistics war planner, and Maintenance Operations Superintendent; deployed multiple times worldwide; and earned an A.A.S. in Aircraft Systems Maintenance and an A.A.S. in Logistics Management from the Community College of the Air Force. Robert retired from the military at the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant but then continued work as a USAF civilian for 6 years at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Hampton followed by the National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, MD where he managed the deployment readiness of all ANG aircraft maintenance units nationwide.
Robert has lived on the Pamunkey Indian Reservation with his family for almost 40 years serving the Tribe as Recording Secretary and Councilperson for almost 30 years. In addition to serving on multiple boards and councils dedicated to Native American issues, he has also served on the Board of Directors for the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers Association, a local grassroots organization dedicated to protecting these two historic rivers. After the Tribe received federal acknowledgement in 2015, he served as Chief for more than 9 years and jointly served as the Tribe’s first tribal administrator for two years. In 2024 and after almost 50 years of dedicated service to his nation, state, and tribe, Chief Gray chose to retire from public service.