ASU linguistics graduate carries her story into the world

Rose Jacket secured a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to begin next January — but first: grad school

By Kristen LaRue-Sandler, ASU News
May 1, 2026

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2026 graduates.

Rose Jacket is an advocate for what’s on “the other side of trying.” She experienced hardship in her childhood and culture shock as a teen. But an encounter with a counselor, who encouraged her to consider college and walked her through the steps of applying to Arizona State University, changed her life.

Now, Jacket — who identifies as a Navajo, Hopi and Ute woman — is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English (linguistics), an American Indian Studies minor and a TESOL certificate. Along the way, she worked hard to create opportunities for herself while proudly representing her communities back home in Bloomfield and Shiprock, New Mexico.

In fall 2025, Jacket was selected for the town of Gilbert’s Native American Management Internship, which gives college students an inside look at careers in municipal government. This spring, she completed an internship as a CONNECT Activities intern, while remaining as a student worker (education specialist) with ASU Global Launch.

Jacket’s preparation was perfect for her intermediate goals: She plans to temporarily relocate to South Korea in January 2027, having been selected for a competitive Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. In the meantime, she’ll begin a master’s degree in public administration at ASU next fall.

Here, she shares more about her college journey.

Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study in your field?

Answer: Before I moved to Arizona, college was hardly ever a conversation growing up. I believed it was something not for me. That all changed when I transferred to Tempe High School during my junior year. It was a difficult moment of life, so I started to go to counseling and eventually built a great connection with my counselor, Angela Marquez. I chose to stay with her as I finished high school because she something in me before I could realize it myself.

As graduation got closer, she pointed to a flyer on the wall about ASU’s Obama Scholarship and walked me through what college even was. She guided me through the process, asked me about my interests, really pushing me to think about a future I’d never imagined before. College has become a space where I could discover who I am and what I am be capable of.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that everyone carries a story. Being at ASU exposed me to so many perspectives, people and experiences that I never would’ve encountered otherwise. College gave me hope — the kind of hope you feel when something good happens, when a door opens, when you step into a new place for the first time. I want others, especially those who feel unsure, like I once did, to know that there is something waiting for them on the other side of trying.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: I chose ASU because of the financial support. I didn’t have to leave everything behind or move far away. I was still close to my Native communities while also stepping into a new environment. ASU gave me the chance to experience an urban lifestyle while staying connected to where I come from. It felt like the right place to grow, explore and take that next step without losing myself.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: (American Indian Studies Teaching Professor) Michelle Hale taught me one of the most important lessons: to persevere. She showed me that it’s possible to bring our Indigenous ways of knowing into these spaces, that our traditions, our stories and our ways of learning belong here, too. Because of her, I’ve learned to walk confidently in both worlds without feeling like I have to leave one behind.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: Don’t lose hope. There is so much ahead of you, especially when it comes to discovering yourself. It’s hard to imagine where you’ll be in a year, or five, or ten. Sometimes just making it from the start of the day to the end is enough. There was a time in my life when I didn’t believe I would live past a certain age. So when I say take it one day at a time, I mean it. Sometimes it’s just “one more day.” And then another. And another. Be the person you needed when you were younger. Take the chances. Apply, hit submit, try out, fail and try again.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: In June, I’ll be heading to South Dakota for a micro internship with (professors of practice) Larissa Fasthorse and Michael Garcés. In the fall, I’ll be starting my classes in downtown Phoenix for my master’s in public administration.

But I’ll have to take a leave for one academic year because in mid-January, I’m leaving for South Korea to teach as an English Teaching Assistant Fulbrighter. Looking that far ahead, anything can happen, but it’s all worth it and I’m extremely grateful for these opportunities.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I’d focus on food insecurity. Growing up, I saw what it meant to stretch meals, to make something out of almost nothing, to carry a quiet worry of whether there would be enough. And this isn’t rare. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 23.3% of American Indian/Alaska Native households experience food insecurity, which is more than double the national average. It’s a statistic that isn’t just a percentage to me. It reflects real families, children and communities like mine. With that kind of funding, I’d invest in community-based solutions, supporting local food systems, school programs and access in rural and reservation areas. Because taking care of our people starts with something as basic, and as powerful, as food.

This story originally appeared on ASU News.