SDM Team Spotlight: Maxine Janis and Julia Orr

The highlight tells the story of the origins from which Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis descends and the valuable assets of knowing her identity as a professional and personally as a member of the Lakota people from the plains of South Dakota.  Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis grew up in the heart of her Lakota (Sioux) homelands in Pine Ridge South Dakota attending reservation boarding schools early in her life. These were defining lived experiences that laid the footprint of her life’s work. 

She has worked on many tribal reservations with the Indian Health Service (IHS) for 20+ years as a dental practitioner.   Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis worked on the homelands of the Yakama Nation at their IHS clinic ending her federal service career at this location.  She earned an undergraduate degree in dental hygiene from Yakima Valley College, a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Washington University, and a Master’s in Public Health from Portland State University. Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis holds a doctoral degree from Northern Arizona University. Her expansive career and background spans public health, private practice, and higher education. She was the President’s Liaison for Native American Affairs and professor at Heritage University until recently stepping into graduate education as a professor of dental hygiene in the PNWU School of Dental Medicine (SDM), as well as a professor in the Master of Arts in Medical Science (MAMS) program.

 Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis values having advocates and mentors who open the door of education opportunity for those who come from underrepresented populations.  As a receiver of these practices, she states “it becomes my moral imperative to give back by advancing health and education access for Indigenous people”.

Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis was the past recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award from Northern Arizona University dental hygiene program as well as the recipient of a Minority Faculty Fellow Award from the U.S. Department of Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA). She was also the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Yakima Valley College. Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis’s research trajectory focus is/and remains around social justice addressing health inequities grounded in human rights, service learning, and cross-cultural education.

Dr. Maxine Brings Him Back-Janis has been an invited speaker internationally at The Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Indigenous Conference in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and again in Hamilton, New Zealand. She was a keynote speaker at the National Australia Dental Hygiene Symposium, Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia. She has traveled to Havana, Cuba as part of the American Public Health Research Delegation. Other international scholarly endeavors include traveling to Guatemala, Belize, India, and New Zealand participating in humanitarian efforts among Indigenous populations. 

Maxine states “I’m so honored to be a Lakota carrying forward the traditions and culture of our people for the next seven generations to come!”  Walking with humility and kindness are important values Maxine carries in her life. She states, “I feel so connected when I return to my homelands yearly to spend time with relatives and participate in traditional ceremonies and speak my Lakota language.” Another of Maxine’s many pleasures include staying connected to tribal communities in the Northwest by participating in Native American traditional and cultural gatherings.

Maxine states “I’m so proud to be a mother to three sons and am privileged to be a seasoned grandmother to share the gift of wisdom with my 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren”. She and John live in Selah. 

Julia, a native of western Washington, grew up with a passion for sports and education. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian or teacher, later shifting her aspirations to athletic training. Her 13-year soccer career and experiences with physical therapy due to sports injuries initially led her towards a path in athletic training at Boise State University. However, a torn meniscus and subsequent surgery caused Julia to reevaluate her career path. Her desire to be an athletic trainer lessened due to the amount of physical therapy she had to do herself both prior and post-surgery. During a conversation with her mother, the idea of teaching resurfaced, aligning with her longstanding passion for education and learning. This realization prompted her to pursue a degree in Elementary Education at Boise State University, beginning in 2020 amidst the pandemic.

Facing challenges during her time at Boise State, including health issues and the impacts of remote learning, Julia made the difficult decision to transfer schools. With her parent’s support, she moved to Ellensburg in September 2021 to continue her education at Central Washington University.

At Central Washington University, Julia’s passion for learning and education flourished. Inspired by her fifth-grade teacher, who demonstrated how enjoyable learning could be, Julia aspired to create a classroom environment where students would feel supported and excited about learning. She focused on making lessons accessible to all students, considering their diverse needs and learning styles.

Julia’s dedication paid off as she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Central Washington University in March 2024, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in Literacy. Her experience as a student teacher and in various elementary practicums honed her skills in organization, leadership, time management, and creativity.

Facing a challenging job market for teachers, Julia sought opportunities to remain connected to education. She applied for and secured a position as an Administrative Assistant at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU). This role allows her to support others, work towards goals, and continue learning new professional skills while staying connected to the field of education. Julia’s passion for education extends beyond the classroom. She values PNWU’s mission and is proud to contribute to it through her work in the School of Dental Medicine (SDM). Her commitment to continuous learning has led her to pursue a Master of Education in Education Technology and Instructional Design, which she plans to begin in the near future. Throughout her journey, Julia has demonstrated strong organizational skills, attention to detail, leadership abilities, and empathy. These qualities, combined with her experience in teaching and her passion for education, make her well-suited for her current role and future endeavors in the field of education.