AISES Advisory Councils

Overview 

AISES currently has Seven Advisory Councils - the Corporate Advisory Council (CAC), Government Relations Council (GRC), Academic Advisory Council (AAC), Professional Chapter Council (PCC), Canadian Indigenous Advisory Council (CIAC), Tribal Nations Advisory Council (TNAC), and the Council of Elders. Each of these Councils play an important role in advising AISES in its work for their respective sectors; with the Council of Elders advising the board and the organization on traditional and cultural matters.

Council Structure

Each advisory council is led by a chairperson or chairpersons who is appointed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the AISES Board chairperson. The chairperson(s) of each advisory council is responsible for the appointment of members to the advisory councils. Typically, the advisory councils meet in-person twice annually at the Leadership Summit in the spring and the National Conference in the fall. Councils may also have other in-person video/teleconference meetings throughout the year as determined by the chairperson(s) and the AISES CEO. Each advisory council has a description of responsibilities and structure as seen below. These descriptions can also be found in the Organization's Bylaws. Advisory Councils Chairpersons attend all AISES Board meetings to report out to the board on activities and to offer input to the board of directors in regard to their respective sectors.

Corporate Advisory Council

AISES’ CAC is a professional association of corporate representatives who support AISES in its mission of increasing the number of Native people in STEM. The CAC provides industry advice and counsel for the AISES CEO and the Board of Directors by:

  • Providing scholarships, internship programs and/or employment opportunities.
  • Participating in and supporting AISES events through sponsorships, presentations, and providing career information and resources.
  • Supporting student and professional chapters in their local areas.
  • Providing industry expertise and guidance related to current/projected employment trends and needs.
  • Developing support for AISES consistent with individual company capabilities, including financial contributions, in-kind gifts and human resources.
  • Assisting AISES in fundraising efforts through networking and participation.
  • Facilitating effective public relations for AISES activities via coverage in company publications.

If you are interested in joining the Corporate Advisory Council, please contact Kellie Jewett-Fernandez, Director of Business and Program Development at kjfernandez@aises.org.


Government Relations Council

The GRC is comprised of U.S. Government employees. The GRC establishes and supports working relationships between Federal government agencies and AISES, and identifies government resources, develops strategies, and promotes government careers in support of AISES' mission by:

  • Assisting in the placement of Native people into government jobs, by working closely with AISES student chapters, and colleges and universities.
  • Coordinating and participating in government sponsored workshops at the AISES National Conference, Leadership Summit, and Regional Conferences.
  • Identifying federal funding opportunities for AISES.
  • Supporting student and professional chapter events.
  • Identifying federal internship and employment programs.

If you are interested in joining the Government Relations Council, please contact Alicia Mitchell, Director of Tribal and Government Relations at amitchell@aises.org or 602-837-4815

GRC 2017 Summer Meeting Proceedings

GRC 2016 National Conference Meeting Proceedings

GRC 2016 Summer Meeting Proceedings

GRC 2016 Summer Meeting Agenda

GRC 2015 National Conference Meeting Proceedings

GRC 2015 Summer Meeting Proceedings

GRC 2015 Summer Meeting Proceedings – Intern Panel Summary


Academic Advisory Council

The AAC provides advice and guidance to AISES regarding academic matters such as grant proposal writing, educational and research project design, faculty careers, college admissions and financial aid, postgraduate study and fellowship opportunities, research opportunities, and other higher education opportunities. The Council engages in issues including, but not limited to:

  • Providing recommendations concerning the scientific and technical merit of grant proposals and projects.
  • Providing recommendations concerning protections for human subjects and other areas as applicable for grant proposals or projects.
  • Making recommendations concerning appropriateness of budget requests for grant proposals and projects.
  • Providing mentorship to AISES student members who are interested in pursuing a career in Academia.
  • Supporting AISES' activities and chapters at ACC members' colleges and universities.
  • Alerting AISES to potential grant funding and institutional partnership opportunities.

If you are interested in joining the Academic Advisory Council, please contact Kathy DeerInWater, Director of Programs and Research at kdeerinwater@aises.org.


Canadian Indigenous Advisory Council

The CIAC consists of representatives from the Canadian Indigenous science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) community. The primary role of the CIAC is to advise AISES on issues of relevance and importance to its Canadian Indigenous (Status and Non-Status First Nations, Metis and Inuit) members. In addition, the CIAC also works to assist AISES in creating opportunities for Canadian Indigenous members and to support the AISES mission of substantially increasing the representation of Canadian Indigenous Peoples in engineering, science, and other related technology disciplines. The Canadian Indigenous Advisory Council:

  • Advises AISES on issues important to Canadian Indigenous chapters and members.
  • Assists in the formation of professional and post-secondary chapters of AISES in Canada.
  • Encourages K-12 Canadian Indigenous educator and student participation in AISES programming, where appropriate.
  • Serves as a liaision between the Canadian Indigenous STEM community and AISES.
  • Provides networking oppportunities for Canadian Indigenous AISES chapters and members.
  • Promotes communication between Canadian Indigenous AISES chapters and members.
  • Serves as an advocate to publicize Canadian Indigenous content in Winds of Change Magazine and on the AISES website.
  • Represents the CIAC at regularly sheduled AISES Board meetings by sending at least one co-chair.
  • Provides input to National Conference proceedings in order to increase relevance for Canadian Indigenous AISES members.
  • Promotes, assists and supports AISES in hosting a gathering of Canadian Indigenous AISES members and allies at the National Conference.
  • Supports AISES in developing a biennial conference held in Canada to serve Canadian Indigenous AISES chapters and members.

If you are interested in joining the Canadian Indigenous Advisory Council, please contact Lisa Paz, Director of Membership and Individual Giving at lpaz@aises.org.


Professional Chapter Council

The PCC consists of representatives of the AISES professional chapters whose goal is to provide guidance and representation for professional chapters, to advise AISES on issues important to professional chapters and members, to increase opportunities for AISES professionals, and to support the AISES mission by:

  • Meeting quarterly to support and represent the AISES professional chapters.
  • Advising AISES on issues important to the professional chapters and members.
  • Supporting the formation of additional professional chapters.
  • Assisting professional chapters in fundraising ideas and programs.
  • Serving as a liaison between professional chapters and AISES Headquarters.
  • Assisting professional chapters to recruit new members and retain current members.
  • Assisting professional chapters in providing professional development for members.
  • Providing networking opportunities for professional chapters and members.
  • Assisting professional chapters in their outreach to AISES students and student chapters.
  • Reviewing professional chapter Affiliation Agreements and Professional By-laws and presenting any proposed changes to AISES Headquarters.
  • Promoting communication between professional chapters.
  • Having the PCC Chair represent the PCC at regularly scheduled AISES Board meetings.
  • Providing input for the Professional Members Dinner at the National Conference.

If you are interested in joining the Professional Chapter Council, please contact Lisa Paz, Director of Membership and Individual Giving at lpaz@aises.org.

Documents and Forms

The following documents are required to apply to an AISES Professional Chapter:


Tribal Nations Advisory Council

The TNAC of AISES consists of representatives from Tribal Nations in the United States and Canada. The primary role of the TNAC is to advise AISES on issues of relevance and importance to Tribal Nations. In addition, the TNAC also works to assist AISES in creating opportunities for Tribal Nations and their citizens, and to support the AISES’ mission of substantially increasing the representation of Indigenous Peoples of North America in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

The Tribal Nations Advisory Council:

  • Advises AISES on issues important to tribal AISES chapters and their members.
  • Participates in and supports AISES events through sponsorships, presentations, and providing career information and resources.
  • Assists in the formation and development of Tribal AISES Chapters.
  • Encourages K-12 Tribal educator and student participation in AISES programming.
  • Provides scholarships, internship programs, and/or employment opportunities.
  • Provides expertise and guidance related to current/projected employment trends and needs in Tribal communities.
  • Develops tribal support for AISES including financial contributions, in-kind gifts, and human resources.
  • Assists AISES in fundraising efforts through networking and participation.
  • Serves as a liaison between Tribal Nations and AISES.
  • Provides networking opportunities for tribal AISES chapters and members.
  • Serves as an advocate to publicize content in Winds of Change Magazine and on the AISES website to represent Tribal Nations.
  • Represents the TNAC at regularly scheduled AISES Board meetings by sending at least one co-chair.
  • Provides input to AISES National Conference proceedings to increase relevance for Tribal Nations.
  • Promotes, assists, and supports AISES in hosting a gathering of Tribal Nations’ representatives at the AISES National Conference and other Native-focused events.

If you are interested in joining the Tribal Nations Advisory Council, please contact Shayna Gutierrez, Tribal and Business Development Manager at sgutierrez@aises.org.