Mary Jacobs

Mary Jacobs serves as Full Professor and Chair of the American Indian Studies program at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP), holding a PhD in Social Welfare with Child Welfare policy specialization from the University of Chicago.

Her research integrates American Indian Studies with Social Welfare frameworks, focusing on Indigenous Education, Native American History, and Gender/Sexuality Studies through the lens of Southeastern Native women's experiences. Key themes include cultural preservation, Two-Spirit identities, and community-based justice initiatives within tribal contexts.

Dr. Jacobs has edited seminal works including American Indian Women of Proud Nations (2016, 2024 editions) and Upon Her Shoulders (2022), while publishing in interdisciplinary journals spanning The North Carolina Medical Journal, Native South, and Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, demonstrating consistent scholarly engagement across health, education, and social justice domains.