celebrated and prolific United Keetoowah scholar and theologian
MEET THE
MANIC SCRIBE
Cody C. Robinson, M.S.
Hometown: Tahlequah, OK
Biography:
Celebrated and prolific United Keetoowah scholar and theologian ᏌᎳᎻ ᏛᏃᏪᎳᏂ (known more commonly by his legal name, Cody C. Robinson) grew up in the small Cherokee community of Shady Grove, west of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Cody’s favorite activities growing up were reading and writing short stories. As a member of a large Keetoowah Cherokee family who emphasized education as a sacred obligation to their tribe, he was raised with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
After receiving a degree of higher education, Cody felt something was missing from his life- until his pilgrimage in the ‘Walk to Emmaus’ program in 2017. After experiencing first-hand the power of God’s grace and mercy working through community, Cody sought out ways to apply his formal education in organizational leadership & methods of educational techniques to ministry.
Cody currently serves the Church Universal and the United Methodist Church as Senior Pastor at D. D. Etchieson Memorial Indian (United) Methodist Church, the Advisory Board of Directors for the NSU Wesley Foundation, Chairperson of the Cookson Hills Indigenous Center, and Member of the Oklahoma Indian Methodist Conference’s Board of Campus Ministry.
A United Methodist for a decade, Cody is constantly seeking opportunities to serve the Church at-large through advocacy, education, and discipleship.
Education:
B.S., Criminal Justice, Political Science and Cherokee Cultural Studies Minors, Capstone: Exploring Native American Juvenile Recidivism, Northeastern State University, 2014
M.S. Higher Education Leadership, With Distinction (Excellence in Graduate Research), Capstone: American Indian/Alaska Native College Student Retention Strategies, Northeastern State University, 2016
M.Div (In Progress), Capstone: Indigenous Hermeneutics; Research Foci: Christian Education and Post-Colonial Theologies, Phillips Theological Seminary
Former Vocations:
Adjunct Instructor, Northeastern State University | 2014-2016
Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant to the Vice-President of Student Affairs, Northeastern State University | 2014-2016
Chief Strategic Analyst, Oklahoma Federal Congressional District 2 Campaign | 2016
Director of Leadership Development, Northeastern State University Wesley Foundation United Methodist Student Center | 2016 – 2020
Summer Intern, Cherokee Nation Jack Brown Adolescent Treatment Center | 2017
Supply Pastor, Woodall United Methodist Church | 2018-2020
Part-Time Senior Pastor, Muskogee Trinity United Methodist Church | 2019-2022
Senior Pastor, D. D. Etchieson Memorial Indian United Methodist Church | 2022 – Present
Awards and Honors:
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges | WW Scholars LLC | May 2014
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges | WW Scholars LLC | May 2015
Five Friends and Brothers Award | Nu-Phi Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity | April 2015
Brother of the Year | Nu-Phi Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity | April 2015
Outstanding Grand Scribe | The Kappa Sigma Fraternity | April 2015
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges | WW Scholars LLC | May 2016
NSU Honor Society Award | Northeastern State University | March 2016
2016 Friend of the Greek Community Award | Northeastern State University
Outstanding Graduate Distinction | Northeastern State University | December 2016
2017 Friend of the Greek Community Award | Northeastern State University
2018 Friend of the Greek Community Award | Northeastern State University
2018 Plowman Book Award | Phillips Theological Seminary
2019 Friend of the Greek Community Award | Northeastern State University
2019 Plowman Book Award | Phillips Theological Seminary
2020 Friend of the Greek Community Award | Northeastern State University
2020 Plowman Book Award | Phillips Theological Seminary
2021 Friend of the Greek Community Award | Northeastern State University
Organizational Advisor of the Year (Kappa Sigma Fraternity | Northeastern State University | May 2022
2022 United Keetoowah Band Graduate Student Tribal Scholarship | United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma
2022 Thomas Roughface Memorial Scholarship | Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference
2022 Post-Colonial Theology Book Award | Phillips Theological Seminary
2023 Thomas Roughface Memorial Scholarship | Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference
2023 United Keetoowah Band Graduate Student Tribal Scholarship | United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma
2024 Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference Student Award | Phillips Seminary
2024 United Keetoowah Band Graduate Student Tribal Scholarship | United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma
2024-2025 Native American Seminarian Scholarship | United Methodist Global Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry
Civic, Professional, Educational, Social, and Ecclesiastical Memberships and Service:
Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, Member, 2024 - Present
Oklahoma Indian Methodist Conference Higher Education Committee, Member, 2024 – Present
John Hair Cultural Center and Keetoowah Museum Strategic and Interpretive Planning Committee, 2024 - Present
Oklahoma Indian Methodist Conference Strategic Committee, Member, 2023 – Present
Religious Education Association, Member, 2023 – Present
NSU Wesley Foundation, Advisory and Governance Committees, Member, 2022-Present
Cookson Hills Indigenous Center Board of Directors, Chairperson, 2022- Present
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Cultural Innovation Committee, 2022 – Present
The Annual Conference of Oklahoma United Methodist Church, Higher Education and Campus Ministry Committee, Chairperson, 2020-2022
The Order of St. Patrick, Abbot Emeritus and Claustral Prior, 2020 - Present
NSU Wesley Foundation, various executive roles, 2015-2022
The Kappa Sigma Fraternity, various executive roles, 2012-2022
The Order of St. Patrick is an ecumenical fellowship for Christian clergy and lay contemplatives, who wish to dedicate themselves to a secularly cloistered monastic life.
Members of the Order commit themselves to a life of contemplation and service, and to the teaching of Christian spiritual formation as directed by the Rule of Life of the Order.
The Order of Saint Patrick
