Coming from an athletic family, I’yawa Brewer, a member of the Navajo Nation, found passion in soccer. She played at the Division 1 level, both at Illinois State University (ISU) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), serving as the team’s first Native American player at both institutions.
Born in Tucson, Ariz. and grandparents from Tohatchi, NM and Parker, AZ, Brewer’s parents encouraged their children to play all sports, including volleyball and basketball. Although Brewer enjoyed playing volleyball, she found soccer to be her sport.
Soccer is a sport that allowed Brewer to create a support system and promote representation for Native American athletes in college sports. She played as a center back and defensive midfielder.
“There are some people in different areas of the US and in the world generally that know little to nothing about Native American culture and Tribal Nations in the US,” Brewer said. “But I was able to give them some knowledge about myself and about my traditions and about who I am as a Native American [Navajo, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Oglala Lakota, Colorado River Indian Tribes].”
Being a college athlete helped her learn how to manage a very complex and challenging schedule as a biology major, such as practices, attending classes, and studying while balancing time for herself to grow as an individual.
“I’m proud that I was able to juggle my studies and athletics all within four years…it gave me a lot of confidence and some great life experiences that I know will help me in my future career, which is dentistry,” Brewer said.
With a goal to be a dentist, Brewer strives to improve the healthcare system and make it accessible because of her own family’s health impacts. As a future dentist, she plans to give back to different areas across the Navajo Nation and Indian Country as a whole.
Initially, Brewer studied molecular and cellular biology at ISU in 2021 for two years, then she transferred to UMKC, where she graduated on May 17, 2025, with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. At UMKC, she also completed her pre-dentistry coursework.
This fall, she will matriculate at the University of Utah School of Dentistry in their Dentistry Postbaccalaureate Program.
“Don’t be afraid if one door closes, if one school doesn’t work out, with hard work and real commitment there’s always another opportunity on the horizon,” Brewer said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: PRESIDENT NYGREN HIGHLIGHTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT EXEMPLIFY EXCELLENCE, PUBLIC SERVICE AND THOSE STRIVING TO MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU FOR BEING A SERVANT TO OUR NAVAJO PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES!
