Cal State San Bernardino alumnus Michael Chavez (Gabrielino-Tongva) ’19, ’22 has returned to his alma mater as the university’s new Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) program manager.

In this role, Chavez will oversee the university’s compliance with the NAGPRA and California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (CalNAGPRA).

“Michael brings his archaeological background and collections experience to this position,” said Marisa V. Yeager, CSUSB associate vice president for the Office of Government & Community Relations, in announcing the appointment. “Since 2022, he served as the archaeological collections manager/NAGPRA project manager at the Fowler Museum at UCLA, where he stewarded the archaeological collections, maintained inventories, aided in the first CalNAGPRA tribal collections review between UC and non-federally recognized tribe, and ensured NAGPRA/CalNAGPRA compliance through adhering to UCLA, UC and National NAGPRA protocols.

“Michael has also previously worked on collection projects at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Art Museum at CSUSB and also at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside,” Yeager said.

“Coming back to CSUSB to be part of the amazing team in Government Relations is a dream scenario,” Chavez said. “CSUSB has a strong history of collaboration with native communities and those efforts are reflected on campus. I’m proud to be able to say that I’ve returned to my home campus to help ensure any and all cultural materials that CSUSB is holding are returned to their communities of origin through constant and transparent consultation with tribal communities.”

Chavez is a two-time alumnus of CSUSB, with a master’s degree in history in 2022 and a bachelor of arts degree in history in 2019.

The addition of Chavez highlights CSUSB’s leading role in the effort to repatriate to California’s tribes the artifacts and remains of Native Americans that are currently held by California State University campuses. (There are no remains of Native Americans on the CSUSB campus or in its holdings.)

In August 2023, CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales was appointed CSU Presidential Advisor to the chancellor and Board of Trustees for Native American Initiatives by then-interim Chancellor Jolene Koester. Morales advises fellow CSU presidents and university system leadership to further develop respectful and culturally competent relationships with sovereign tribal nations. 

In 2022, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) of the state Legislature recommended that the California State Auditor (CSA) audit the California State University’s compliance of both NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA. The audit surveyed all CSU campuses regarding the ancestral remains and cultural items in their possession and what progress has been made toward repatriation since the federal law was enacted in 1990 and implemented in 1995. ​The audit, published in June 2023, said that while the CSU has taken steps in the repatriation effort, more must be done to comply with NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA.