Congratulations, Michelle!

In May 2025, Special Collections Project Archivist Michelle Boyer successfully defended her dissertation, "Once Were/Now Are Warriors: The Changing Representations of Warriorhood in Māori and American Indian Fiction and Film," and was awarded her PhD from University of Arizona Department of American Indian Studies, College of Social & Behavorial Sciences.

Boyer's dissertation examines how the role of warriorhood, and who claims that role, has been changing in contemporary fiction and film noting that these roles are being taken by women and children, often activists, who become community protectors. 

While working on her doctorate, Boyer also decided to pursue a second master's degree, this time, a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS). She was also a member of University of Arizona Knowledge River Scholars Program that specializes in educating library and information professionals through professional development and practical experience. Scholars address the wide range of information and literacy needs within local communities.

Boyer says she is now “exceptionally bored” and is considering which degree she should go after next. Perhaps a PhD in Information Sciences? In her spare time, she runs a small Arabian horse rescue on the southwest side of Tucson, adopts “crazy” dogs from Pima Animal Control Center (PACC), raises exhibition show poultry and pigeons, and reads as many books as she can.