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Frank C. Dukepoo is a full-blooded American Indian of Hopi and Laguna heritage. Born on the Mohave Indian reservation, in Arizona, he received his early education in the Phoenix area, In 1973 he graduated from Arizona State University with a Ph.D. in zoology (genetics). He, is the first Hopi to have earned a doctorate and one of six Indians nationally who hold earned doctorates in the sciences. He is one of only two Native American geneticists in the country.

His background includes teaching at San Diego State University, administrative executive positions with the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, Washington, D.C. He is the former Director of Indian Education at Northern Arizona University (NAU), Flagstaff. Presently, he is a faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences and Special Assistant to the Academic Vice President at NAU.

For the past I 0 years he has expanded his interest in the area of retention and motivation. In recent years he has gained considerable reputation as one of the country's outstanding motivators of Indian students. He is the former Director of a NSF-supported science program that has gained national recognition for 100% retention of Indian students. Dr. Dukepoo is the founder, incorporator and Director of the National Native American Honor Society. This nationally-recognized exemplary program includes about 2,000 straight-A Native American students representing some 190 schools in the continental United States, Alaska and Canada.

In addition to retention and motivation studies, his other research interests include the study of birth defects in Southwest Native Americans and, albinism and inbreeding among the Hopi Indians of Northern Arizona. He is attempting to map the albino gene and has made two films pertaining to his research. The Whizkids production has received the ABC Excellence Award in Children's Programing, Telly Award and the School Library Journal Award. In 1995, the production was accepted for airing by the Minnesota Public Television. He has been featured on radio talk shows pertaining to motivation of Indian youth and ethics in human genomic research in Indian communities. Currently he is developing culturally-relevant science material, science modules and science kits for elementary students. As an amateur magician he gives "Mind, Magic and Motivation" shows to Indian youth.

As a professional, he is a member of numerous scientific and educational societies and organizations and is a founding member of SACNAS (Society for the Advance of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science and AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society). He also serves as a consultant to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Education, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Southwest Development Laboratory and the Far West Laboratory. He also provides training and gives in-service to teachers, numerous Indian tribes and the Department of Economic Security (Child Protective Services).

His numerous awards include the John Hay Whitney Fellowship, Ford Foundation Fellowship, listing in Who's Who of American Indians, Bo Jack Humanitarian Award, Iron Eyes Cody Medal of Freedom Award, Outstanding Educator of The Year Award (National Coalition of Indian Education) and "Premier" status and "Exemplary" Awards for programs he devised and directed in working with American Indian youth. In 1995 he was named "Indian Man of the Year," inducted into the "Indian Hall of Fame," listed in "Past and Present Indian Leaders" and selected for inclusion in "Bibliographies of Outstanding Native Americans." In 1996 he was named "Hopi Of The Year" and received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" for service to Indian people.

He's also listed in 100 Native Americans Who Shaped American History.