Join Regent Greg Sarris for a conversation on storytelling and community
October 27, 2025 •
On Thursday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m. PT, all UCOP staff are invited to a special virtual event hosted by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Native American Community Partnerships program in honor of Native American Heritage Month.
The event will feature UC Regent Greg Sarris, Ph.D., who will share how he has used storytelling to connect across the many communities that shape his life — as a professor, UC regent, author, and chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. His reflections will highlight how narrative serves as a bridge for education, cultural understanding, and the empowerment of Native American communities.
Register here to join the conversation with Regent Sarris
UC Regent Greg Sarris, Ph.D.
Regent Sarris is currently serving his 17th consecutive elected term as chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and is president of the tribe’s Economic Development Board, overseeing all business interests, including the Graton Resort and Casino. In 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed him to the University of California Board of Regents, where he chairs the Public Engagement and Development Committee.
An accomplished author and educator, Sarris earned his Ph.D. in modern thought and literature from Stanford University, following a bachelor’s degree from UCLA. He previously taught English at UCLA and served as the Fletcher Jones Professor of Creative Writing and Literature at Loyola Marymount University, later becoming distinguished emeritus Graton-endowed chair in Native American Studies at Sonoma State University.
His award-winning works include “Grand Avenue” — adapted into an HBO miniseries with Robert Redford — “Watermelon Nights,” “Mabel McKay: Weaving the Dream,” “The Forgetters,” and “Becoming Story: A Journey among Seasons, Places, Trees, and Ancestors.” His forthcoming book, “The Last Human Bear,” continues his exploration of storytelling as a means of connection and renewal.
UC ANR Native American Advisory Council Member Lorelle WB Ross
Beyond academia and writing, Regent Sarris has served on the boards of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (including two years as chair) and the Sundance Institute, and is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
UC ANR Native American Advisory Council Member Lorelle WB Ross will offer introductory remarks. Lorelle is emeritus vice chair of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and a dedicated advocate for tribal justice, cultural preservation, and Native community empowerment. She currently serves as chair of the UC President’s Native American Advisory Council.
For questions, contact Aimee Chang. You can also download the event flyer (PDF).
Tags: Lorelle Ross, Regent Sarris
