UW–Madison alum O’Connor honored with Native American 40 Under 40 award


UW–Madison alumnus David O’Connor has been honored with a Native American 40 Under 40 award from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.

O’Connor is the American Indian Studies consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). He holds a master’s degree from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.

David O'Connor
O’Connor

O’Connor is originally from, and is a member of, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) in northern Wisconsin.  In his role with DPI, he supports school districts’ efforts to provide instruction on the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of Wisconsin’s American Indian nations and tribal communities, and the education of Native American students.

The Native American 40 Under 40 award recognizes 40 emerging American Indian and Alaska Native leaders under the age of 40 from across the country. Nominated by their peers, the 2020 40 Under 40 winners have exemplified leadership, initiative, and, especially during COVID-19, resiliency and dedication towards their communities and businesses.

O’Connor and the 2020 class join well over 400 previous winners that have been honored over the last decade.

“The Native American 40 Under 40 awards recognize the hard-work, dedication, and perseverance of our best and brightest,” said National Center President and CEO Chris James. “Every year I am impressed by the wide range of accomplishments of our 40 Under 40 winners. The 2020 class shows us what young Native American and Alaska Native leaders are capable of — and what they are already accomplishing. Just as the 40 Under 40 honorees continually inspire all of us here at the National Center, we hope the award continues to inspire generations of Indian Country leaders who will one day be a part of this esteemed group.”

Learn more about this prestigious award, and see the full list of 2020’s 40 Under 40 award recipients, here.

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