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The VCU Provost Lecture Series, co-sponsored by the VCU Humanities Research Center, presents a special lecture by Chief Stephen R. Adkins Sr. of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, who will provide insights into the complex journey of Virginia's Native nations toward federal recognition and sovereignty. Chief Adkins will trace the historical and political landscape that culminated in the landmark 2018 federal recognition of six Virginia tribes, including his own Chickahominy Nation. Drawing on decades of advocacy and leadership, he will examine how Virginia's Native communities have navigated the federal recognition process while maintaining their cultural integrity, developing economic independence, and asserting political sovereignty in the 21st century. This presentation will address critical contemporary issues including the ongoing challenges and opportunities that federal recognition brings to tribal governance, economic development, education, cultural preservation, and community self-determination. Chief Adkins will also talk about the future of Virginia's Native nations as they work to strengthen intertribal relationships, expand educational and cultural programs, and advocate for Indigenous rights at both state and federal levels. This event offers the VCU community a unique opportunity to learn directly from an esteemed tribal leader about the resilience, vision, and ongoing struggles of Virginia's Indigenous nations.

This event is co-sponsored by the VCU Office of the Provost and VCU Libraries.

About the Speakers

Stephen R. Adkins, Chickahominy is a graduate of Bacone Jr. College, Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he received his Associate Arts degree, and Virginia Commonwealth University where he received his B.S. in Business Administration. While serving on the board of trustees of Bacone College he was awarded an honorary master’s degree in Humane Letters on May 05, 2007. He retired from the Commonwealth of Virginia as the Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resource Management after serving in the administration(s) of Governor(s) Tim Kaine and Bob McDonnell.   He retired from DuPont in 2006 after 40 years of service. Chief Adkins currently serves as 1st Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Argent Federal Credit Union. Prior to joining the Board in 1998, he served on its Supervisory Committee for 16 years.  He served as a member of the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission and the 2019 Commemoration/American Evolution. He serves on the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, and serves as 1st Vice President of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV).  Chief Adkins was a founding Board Member of the Chesapeake Conservancy. Chief Adkins served on the Charles City School Board for over 20 years.  He has served as Principal Chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe since 2001. Chief Adkins is a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at Samaria Baptist Church and a former moderator of Dover Baptist Association, an association of 65 churches.

Troy Adkins is an enrolled citizen of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe. He has served the Chickahominy Indian Tribe in various capacities for more than 40 years, with over 25 years of experience on Tribal Council and 40+ years as a traditional dancer with their Tribal Dance Group and teaching cultural classes. Troy has served on boards of various organizations including the Charles City County Vocational Education Advisory Council, Samaria Baptist Church Council, Virginia Council on Indians (gubernatorial appointee), Secretary/Co-Chair/Chair of the National Association of Legislative IT, and a member of an intertribal delegation to France in 1990. He also serves in his Church (The River Ministries) and volunteers for mission projects in the community and abroad. He serves on the Economic Development Working group for the Chickahominy Tribe where he works with others to explore and vet economic opportunities for the tribe and serves on the tribe’s Scholarship Committee.

He worked 36 ½ years with the Commonwealth of Virginia, first 18 years as a Network Systems Engineer, Reynolds Community College, and secondly 18+ years as a Network Manager, at the Virginia House of Delegates. He is currently employed as the Broadband Infrastructure Project Manager for the Chickahominy Indian Tribe.

Jessica Stewart is an enrolled Tribal Citizen and serves as an Assistant Project Director for the Chickahominy Indian Tribe’s Program Management and Compliance Office. In this role, she supports Youth Development and Education programming, wellness initiatives to promote social and cultural connectedness, and community engagement through cultural presentations. As a former classroom teacher, she is committed to the overall success of Tribal youth within her Chickahominy community. As an alumna of VCU, Jessica welcomes collaboration between the university and the Indigenous communities within the Commonwealth to continue to tell the story of “We’re Still Here”.

Dr. Beverly J. Warren returned to Virginia Commonwealth University as interim provost in June, 2025, bringing decades of experience in academic leadership and a deep commitment to student success, faculty excellence, and institutional advancement. Her previous tenure at VCU spans nearly 15 years, serving as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs from 2011 to 2014 and holding various senior administrative roles that shaped the university’s trajectory.