Chairman

Ron His Horse is Thunder of Fort Yates, North Dakota
His Horse is Thunder, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, is president of Sitting Bull College and is responsible for overall college operations, public relations and liaison to tribal, state and federal governments. Ron His Horse is Thunder has also served as president of Little Hoop Community College, in Fort Totten, ND; and of Standing Rock Community College before it was renamed Sitting Bull College. Ron His Horse is Thunder earned a J.D. degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law and a bachelor's degree in political science from Black Hills State College.

Members

Eddie F. Brown of Chesterfield, Missouri
Brown, a Pascua Yaqui tribal member and affiliated with the Tohono O'odham Nation, currently serves as Professor and Director of American Indian Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Brown is a former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of Interior and former director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. As director, Brown worked to address critical problems in the Indian community. Brown earned a Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Utah in 1975.

Karen Comeau of Lawrence, Kansas
Comeau, a Standing Rock Sioux tribal member, is former president of Haskell Indian Nations University. Haskell is one of the largest tribal universities offering several bachelors and associate degree programs. Comeau has compiled an impressive resume in education as an administrator and instructor in elementary, secondary and postsecondary institutions. Comeau earned a doctorate in educational administration in 1981 from the University of North Dakota, a master's degree in elementary school administration from Northern State College in 1974, and a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern State College in 1964.

S. Verna Fowler of Wisconsin
Fowler is an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. She was born and raised on the Menominee Reservation where she presently makes her home. Fowler has been involved in education since 1964 working either as a teacher, at all grade levels through adult education, or administrator. She received her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of North Dakota in Educational Administration with a cognate in Higher Education and currently serves as the founding president of the College of the Menominee Nation. During sabbaticals she served the Menominee Indian Tribe in several capacities, such as Executive Director, Director of Credit and Finance, or as the Superintendent of Education. She was active in the Menominee restoration movement serving as Ada Deer's assistant. Fowler is one of five founders of the Sisters of New Genesis of the Green Bay Diocese and a co-owner of the Wolf River Trading Post.

Joseph G. Hiller of Arizona
Hiller (Oglala Sioux) is Assistant Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Assistant Director of Arizona Cooperative Extension where he directs College collaborations with Indian Country in Arizona. He holds the rank of professor and specialist in the Watershed Resources Program in the University of Arizona's School of Renewable Natural Resources. He began his university career in Cooperative Extension in Wyoming and had additional field assignments in Alaska. Hiller is a native of western South Dakota and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. A decorated veteran, he is currently an Army Reserve Special Forces officer.

Deborah His Horse is Thunder of Fort Yates, North Dakota
His Horse is Thunder is the Director of Members Services for the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and enrolled member of the Nakona (i.e., Assiniboine) Nation. Dr. His Horse is Thunder's past experience with tribal colleges include serving as: the Academic Vice President at Fort Peck Community College, the Academic Dean at Haskell Indian Nations University, and as a Project Director for a consortium of tribal colleges (Salish Kootenai College, Little Big Horn College, and Fort Peck Community College) in the development of a distance learning program. Dr. His Horse is Thunder has also served as a faculty member at the University of Montana, the Interim Director of Native American Studies at Montana State University, and as a staff member in Student Services at Eastern Montana College. She was also appointed to the Board of Regents for the Montana University System. Deborah earned a doctorate from the University of Montana.

Kathryn L. Isaacson of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Isaacson is a strategic planning consultant, mediator, facilitator, and trainer, and founder the UNM Mediation Clinic at the University of New Mexico. She helped establish Prosperity Game methodology, designing, directing, and facilitating high-level strategy and leadership games for such clients as the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities, Eastman Kodak, The President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure, Sandia National Laboratories, Lockheed Martin, the Kellogg Foundation, and the Electronic Industries Alliance. With fifteen years of academic work in conflict and communication and 20 years experience in mediation, strategic planning, and public issue management, Kathy concentrates on conflict system design and innovative methods of planning and decision-making. She received her masters degree in communication from the University of New Mexico and teaches conflict and communication classes in the Department of Communication and Journalism.

Daniel G. Keating of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Keating is president of Summit Consolidated Group in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a nationwide insurance, brokerage and consulting firm. A retired Lieutenent Colonel in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve, he is a director in many civic groups, including the Salvation Army, the State Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma Historical Society, and Hillcrest Medical Center Foundation, and is Chairman of the Capitol Club PAC. Mr. Keating also serves on several corporate and bank boards. Keating earned a master's degree in business from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree from the University of Tulsa.

Martha A. McLeod of Brimley, Michigan
McLeod was the founding president of Bay Mills Community College, one of the 32 federally recognized tribal colleges. Under her leadership, the college grew from 11 students in the basement of a tribal center to a fully accredited institution which charters public K-12 schools in Michigan. McLeod currently serves as president of Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Connecticut. McLeod is a first generation high school graduate, earning her doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, a master's degree from Vermont College, and a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York.

Carl M. Morgan, Jr. of Juneau, Alaska
Morgan, a Yupik Eskimo is an enrolled member of the Aniak Traditional Council (a federally recognized tribal government). He was mayor of the City of Aniak from 1991 through 1996 and a past Executive Committee board member for the Kuskokwim Native Association (non-profit consortium of twelve tribes). He is on the Western Interior Subsistence Federal Advisory Council, a Board of Director for the Calista Corporation (regional profit native corporation) and is past instructor of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He was elected to the Alaska State House of Representatives in 1998 and is chairman of the House Community and Regional Affairs committee overseeing local and regional government issues. He is a member of the Joint Armed Service Task Force, Joint Legislative Salmon Task Force and the Rules Committee. Carl Morgan received the David P. Hutchens Public Service Award in 2002.

Richard D. Stephens of California
Stephens is Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration for The Boeing Company. He is responsible for companywide Human Resources and company administration and is a member of the Boeing Executive Council. He has served as vice president and general manager, Integrated Defense Systems Homeland Security and Services. In a 25 year career with Boeing, he has led a number of businesses, including Space and Communication Services, Reusable Space Systems, Naval Systems and Tactical Systems, submarine combat systems, Space Shuttle, and other service and support-related programs. He has served on the Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education and also serves with other American leaders on the Private Sector Senior Advisory Committee of the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council. Stephens received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern California and his Master of Science degree from California State University, Fullerton. Stephens is an enrolled member of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and served as its chairman from 1988-89. He is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer.

Edward K. Thomas of Alaska
Thomas, a member of the Tlingit tribe, currently serves as president of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. He is responsible for overall administration of all operations of the tribe, which includes operation of a steel building business and a vocational training center. Thomas has spent many years in education starting as a classroom teacher, counselor, and then becoming Director of Indian Education at Ketchikan School District. He has a baccalaureate degree in Education from the University of Alaska and a Masters in Education Administration from the Pennsylvania State University. Thomas is a board member of the Office of the Special Trustee for Indian Affairs.

Della C. Warrior of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Warrior, an Otoe-Missouria tribal member, is the president of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA). As president, Warrior has established a permanent campus for IAIA, received accreditation for the Institute's two-year academic programs and implemented its first four-year degree programs. Previously Warrior was Otoe-Missouria Tribal chairperson, the first and only woman to date to hold that position. Warrior earned a master's degree in education from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Northeastern State University.

Richard B. Williams of Broomfield, Colorado
Williams, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, is the President of the American Indian College Fund, a national nonprofit organization that raises private support for all 34 tribal colleges and universities in the United States. Williams earned a master's degree in education administration from the University of Wyoming and a bachelor's degree in university studies from the University of Nebraska.