2016 Board of Directors Election

Post Date: August 8 2016

AISES Members,

The polls are now open for the 2016 Board of Directors election!  AISES conducts voting electronically.  To cast your vote, please go to www.aises.org/bod2016

Please note you will be required to log into the AISES membership portal.  If you forgot your password, you may reset it at: https://aises.site-ym.com/general/email_pass.asp.  

All votes must be cast by September 6, 2016. If you need assistance with your login, please contact Emerald Craig at ecraig@aises.org or at (505) 765-1052 ext. 114. 

Cast Your Vote


2016 AISES Board of Directors Nominees

Anderson, Brittany (ASSOCIATE Member)

Boozhoo giinawa! Brittany indizhinikaaz, Nahgahchiwanong indognibaa. Hello Friends! I am Brittany Anderson. I am from the Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe and hold a B.A. degree in American Indian Studies, Political Science and Indigenous Human Rights from the University of Minnesota-Morris (UMM). I have worked in a number of capacities within American Indian education, including special education, early childhood education, and college admissions. My current role at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (UMN-TC) is Community Outreach Coordinator in the Dept. of American Indian Studies. I am active in the American Indian community at the University of Minnesota, as well as the greater Twin Cities area. 

I’ve also been a member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) since 2010. In college, I held leadership positions in the UMM chapter, and after graduating, I’ve stayed involved in AISES through an advisory position with the UMN-Twin Cities Chapter, North Star AISES Alliance & Professional Chapter (NSAAP), the Professional Chapters Council (PCC) and the Local Volunteer Committee for the 2016 National Conference. My experience in outreach and networking, coupled with my organization skills and passion for the AISES Mission, make me a great fit for the AISES Board of Directors. 

View Full Nomination Form

Black, Bill (ASSOCIATE Member)

Recently retired as Vice President and Executive Director of the Comcast Foundation, Bill Black oversaw more than $1.5 billion in grants, corporate contributions and in-kind support during his nine-year tenure in that role. Under his leadership, Comcast implemented new and innovative strategies for forming national, regional and local partnerships. Bill previously served Comcast and other telecommunications providers in community relations, public policy and operations positions, and has 40 years of management experience.

In his role at Comcast, Bill created an unprecedented portfolio of support to Native American nonprofits. Through his personal development of grants and in-kind support, and his ongoing participation in funder relationships, Bill established very strong ties in Indian Country and remains involved there. His past and present partners include AISES, American Indian College Fund, First Nations Development Institute, Native American Rights Fund, Notah Begay III Foundation, Americans for Indian Opportunity and many more.

Bill serves on the board of the American Indian College Fund and its Finance and Investment Committee. He is an adjunct professor at Temple University and Cabrini University. Bill received an MBA and Master’s in Business Communications from Jones International University. He received a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Thomas Edison State University.

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Black, Iona (GENERAL Member)

AISES is very dear to my heart giving me personal, professional, and community growth and success. Dr. Black has been a member of AISES for several years and a past Board member. She is a Physical Chemist with research involving anti-cancer/antiviral compounds, contaminated water, indigenous medicine, Chemistry Education, and acceptance and retention of Native American and other underrepresented students. She achieved a Ph.D. and M.S. degree in Physical Chemistry from Duquesne University, and a M.Ed. degree from Boston University. She has been faculty at Yale University Chemistry Department, Yale University Medical School SMDEP, and James Madison University. Her commitment to AISES and the native community has been through mentoring, fostering education and retention in STEM disciplines, and as a member of the AISES Professional of the Year Committee, Education Committee, Academic Advisory Committee, and two prior terms on the AISES Board. She is also the past Secretary of the AISES Publishing Inc. (API) Board. She is the tribal stakeholder member of the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council on four past and two current teams. She was awarded the ITRC Stakeholder of the Year 2015 Award. She has served on various Boards and National and International selection committees.

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Herrington, John B. (GENERAL Member)

I am a retired Naval Aviator, test pilot, and astronaut. I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, a Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the US Naval Postgraduate School, and Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Education from the University of Idaho. I am an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma and considered the first tribally enrolled Native American to fly in space. As a NASA Astronaut I was assigned as a Mission Specialist on STS-113, which was the 11th American assembly mission to the International Space Station. I spent over 330 hours in space and conducted three spacewalks, totaling nearly 20 hours. I have been a member of AISES since 1997 and a Sequoyah Fellow. I served as a AISES board member from 1998 to 2000. I have supported AISES by appearing in both print and multimedia productions to increase public awareness and support of the organization. I believe it is imperative for Native American professionals in the STEM fields to act as mentors and role models for the generations to follow. As a board member I will work closely with the AISES leadership to strengthen our outreach to Native students through more effective networking between student and professional chapters.

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Huskey, RJ (ASSOCIATE Member)

RJ is an energetic and forward thinking professional. RJ joined IBM in 2006 and has enjoyed a diverse career in the legal, project management, and marketing professions.

RJ served as a senior corporate staff for 7 years in the IBM Export Regulation Office located in Washington, D.C. As staff he managed aspects of IBM’s export compliance program and provided senior level direction to the business. He maintained compliance for global operations, 5 operating units; and led corporate development efforts in over 20 acquisitions.

In 2014, RJ moved to Arizona to be closer to home and began a new career as an Accelerated Value Leader. RJ has managed over $2.5M in account revenue and provides leadership to globally matrixed teams. RJ stabilizes and grows strong relationships at the C-level on down to mutually resolve issues, increase ROI, and drive client success.

RJ currently serves as the VP of Phoenix AISES where he is collaborating with the board to increase member value and growth. RJ has a B.S. in political science from NAU and was recently placed into the IBM Leadership Development Program where professionally growing and honing his leadership skills. He is passionate about his dogs and growing others.

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Jacobs, Alicia (ASSOCIATE Member)

I am an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, who joined AISES as a non-traditional student in the fall of 2013. I have remained active with the AISES organization once I earned a B.S. of Sociology degree from Western Carolina University with a concentration in Native American Health. Currently, I am the Special Initiatives Director of the Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program at the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. Working with undergraduate students I am passionate about building self-reliance in our youth in order to build stronger communities. Starting graduate school this August to obtain a Master’s Degree in Public Administration because I understand the importance of continued learning, and with this knowledge, I will continue to serve the EBCI in a capacity that will move the tribe forward. Earning a Master’s Degree will allow me to continue serving enrolled members in a capacity that exceeds society’s expectations while setting the example for my family. The business and non-profit skills I bring to the AISES organization has been developed over the past twenty years of serving communities in a capacity that has provided me with a strong work ethic, integrity, individual character, and the utmost level of professionalism.

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Laverdure, Michael Richard Lee (GENERAL Member)

Mike Laverdure. Migisi Migwan (Eagle Feather), Makwa Doodem (Bear Clan), is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, located in North Dakota. He is a registered architect and a Sequoyah member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.

Mike attended North Dakota State University’s College of Architecture, graduating in 1996. He is currently a partner at DSGW Architects and President of a Native American owned planning firm, the First American Design Studio.
He has been a member of AISES since his junior year at Turtle Mountain Community High School and has served on the leadership council for the Region 5 professional chapter, NSAAP since its inception in 2010. Mike also serves on the board for the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce and is the President-elect for the American Indian Council of Architects and Engineers.

Mike is a past award winner of the AISES Executive of the Year and has made it a mission in his life to promote Architecture and Engineering as valid and vital STEM careers for our Tribal Youth.

His mother, Betty Laverdure, instilled in him that giving back to our Tribal Nations should be at the core of what we do on a daily basis, and Mike has found that designing great places is a great way to accomplish that goal.

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Stephens, Rick (GENERAL Member)

Rick Stephens is an enrolled member of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, was tribal chairman for his band, has been a member of AISES since 2004, is a Sequoyah Fellow, was the first recipient of the AISES Executive Excellent Award in 2004, has been a member of the AISES board for 3 years, and currently services as the AISES Board Chair. Rick retired from the Boeing Company in 2013 as a senior executive for the company. Rick’s Native heritage, experience and insight about leadership, fiscal management, and his dedication to ensuring that the vision and values of AISES are upheld and honored are important attributes and capabilities that he brings to ensuring the mission of AISES is fulfilled and that AISES has in place a strong foundation for the next 40 years.

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Wieland, Andrea D (ASSOCIATE Member)

Andrea Wieland has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies, as well, she has a Master’s of Science in Counseling in Student Development in Higher Education. Most of her career she has worked in Higher Education and the nonprofit world. Over the last 19 years she has worked in the Career Development Field. Her first position in Career was in a paid professional internship at California State University San Marcos where she worked in the Career and Disability Service offices. As well, she volunteered her time with the American Indian Student Services at California State Long Beach as well at California State San Marcos. In her first Career Development position with the University of Northern Colorado she also worked and did presentations for the American Indian Student Services office and collaborated in events at the college with the division. She has also worked in a TRiO program which is dedicated to first generation, Pell eligible and students with disabilities where she was the tutoring and mentoring coordinator. For six years she worked at First Nations Development Institute in Longmont Colorado as the Communications Specialist working with social media and the website, and also assisting with grants. For the last 2 ½ years she has been back in higher education working at the Community College of Denver, one of the second Hispanic Serving Institution she has worked at, coordinating the Career Development Center. She recently begun a new position in the Career Success Center at Front Range Community College. She presented at last year’s AISES National Conference on Networking, and continues to be an active professional member in Colorado.

View Full Nomination Form