NCAA honors ASU professor for community service, impact in Arizona

American Indian studies instructor Jolyana Begay-Kroupa (Diné) has been named as a recipient of the NCAA’s 2026 Legends and Legacy Community Award. The honor is given to community leaders who have made a positive impact in the cities where the men’s and women’s basketball Final Four championships are hosted —  featuring Indianapolis and Phoenix this year, respectively.

When Begay-Kroupa received the award notification from the NCAA, she took a moment to reflect on the importance of being an advocate and her gratitude for being a part of hosting events that brought people together and engaged different communities. For her, it was another sign that she’s exactly where she needs to be.

“We're doing great things but only more to come for our relatives. I feel so privileged. Sports are huge in our family, but it's also huge in Indian country. … so to be in a space like this, let alone the Women’s NCAA tournament, that is really meaningful for me and I think it's a great way to recognize those that are doing amazing things in the community,” said Begay-Kroupa.

Begay-Kroupa is the chief executive officer of the Phoenix Indian Center, the oldest American Indian nonprofit organization of its kind in the United States. Her advocacy efforts there focus on what it means to be an Indigenous woman in urban spaces away from cultural familiarity.

Approaching its 80th anniversary, the center was originally established in 1947 to serve the needs of American Indians who came to downtown Phoenix.

Their teams support civic engagement initiatives such as voter registration and youth development programs that help with college and career exploration, leadership training and visits to local employers.

The center also has language and culture programming to ensure younger generations continue to learn about who they are and be proud of themselves.

“We have an amazing language and culture program that's dedicated to creating space for us relatives to celebrate and be proud of who we are, even though many of us are far away from our ancestral homelands.”

She also teaches the Navajo language at Arizona State University to instill the importance of language revitalization and culture. Begay-Kroupa grew up on Navajo land and later moved from the reservation to attend ASU, where she ultimately earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in education. Since graduating, she has stayed in metro Phoenix with her husband and three children.

Begay-Kroupa has been teaching Dine Bizaad (Navajo language) at ASU and enjoys working with students who are eager to learn and speak their heritage language. She is committed to helping students not only learn how to speak Navajo but understand the cultural values and perspectives embedded within it.

“Teaching this language is my way of contributing to its preservation and ensuring it continues to live through future generations” said Begay-Kroupa. 

Her impact on communities in Arizona has also been recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal, which has named Begay-Kroupa to their 2026 Outstanding Women in Business list of honorees.

“I'm honored. It's a way to say ‘We have to have a seat at the table; that means I must be doing something right,’” said Begay-Kroupa. “I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing.”

Begay-Kroupa will be honored on-court during the Women’s Final Four at the Mortgage Matchup Center the weekend of April 3–5.