Melvin is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (North Dakota) and serves as the President for the IEI Board of Directors and CEO for IEI Operations. Melvin enjoys creating and maintaining partnerships for the organization and hearing “I’m a Cobell Scholar!” from students when he travels. Fun fact: I can take you to all the filming locations for “Breaking Bad” in New Mexico but I’ve never seen one episode of the series. In fact, some of “Better Caul Saul” was filmed in IEI’s old office building and that still didn’t prompt me to watch the series.

John began his college journey with a jazz alto saxpophone scholarship to a two-year college near his small hometown in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Moving on to receive his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma he eventually earned a doctorate in Counseling & College Student Personnel Services from the University of Maryland-College Park. Passionate about research and graduate teaching, for the last two decades John has been primarily focused on making sure higher education research and researchers are data inclusive for Native American Indian college student. In addition to supporting IEI’s Cobell Graduate Scholar programs and guiding research initiatives, John partners with other national Native scholarship providers to conduct new original research helping to fill gaps in our knowledge of the American Indian college student experience.

Gary is from Huntsville, AL., and went to undergraduate school at the University of North Alabama and received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He attended graduate school at the University of New Mexico where he received his Master’s in Accounting. Gary manages the OASIS Portal powered by WizeHive. He’s been with Indigenous Education for 2 years. Gary’s hobbies include: Gaming, woodworking, backpacking, and climbing. Fun fact: Gary is an avid mountain climber.

Gabriel joined Indigenous Education, Inc. as Director of Outreach in 2022. He is a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes based in Concho, Oklahoma. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at Oklahoma Baptist University as a Gates Millennium Scholar. Prior to this time, Gabriel spent 11 years at American Indian Graduate Center, a national scholarship organization serving American Indian and Alaska Native students across the country.  His experience covers scholarship operations, academic advisement, campus engagement, data analysis and program management.  Gabriel enjoys working with Native students throughout their educational journeys and looks forward to serving with the team at Indigenous Education, Inc.  As Director of Outreach, Gabriel’s main priorities will be to oversee outreach activities, including social media, presentations and materials, communications to stakeholders, campus connections and oversight of review processes.

Julia (She/Her/Hers) is European-American and was raised on the ancestral lands of the Lakota and Ojibwe peoples in Minneapolis, MN. She received her BS in Community Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Wisconsin Madison (Ho-Chunk land) and her MA in Education Policy from George Washington University (Pamunkey/Piscataway/Anacostan land). Julia has been with IEI since just after its inception in 2016 and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Research and Student Success in which she manages external partnerships, assists and leading the Fellowship Program, maintain social media platforms, analyzes and compiles data and reports and creates & manages student success and services. She currently resides in Washington, DC. During her free time she enjoys traveling, volleyball, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.

Aniin (Hello), I am Joseph Neesho-Migizi (Two-Eagle) Marion, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. I’ve been living in Santa Fe, NM for 5.5 years. I’m a hairdresser, artist in silver jewelry, working with sterling silver, turquoise, and other precious stones. My other art forms include painting with water color, teaching Native American beadwork, fashion design, with a focus on ribbon skirts and shirts. I write poetry and short stories as well. I’m now working with Indigenous Education, Inc., Home of the Cobell Scholarship in Albuquerque, NM. I have a passion for hiking the mountains of New Mexico.

Hello (Yá’-át’ééh), my name is Kathy Deeshchii’nii and am Diné from the Navajo Nation, I am Todích’íí’nii (Bitter Water), maternal clan, born for the Tłógi (Hairy Ones), paternal clan. I joined Indigenous Education Inc., in January 2022 as an Administrative Associate after 30 years working at the University of New Mexico. I have a wonderful husband, Dan, and four adult sons who all live in Albuquerque, we have two beautiful granddaughters and two dogs. The IEI staff have been welcoming and supportive; I look forward to establishing new working relationships and assisting our native students across the US and Alaska.  Thank you (ahéhee’)

Skylynn is from Gallup, NM, and a member of the Navajo Nation. She recently graduated from the University of New Mexico in May 2022 with a BS in Population Health. Sky helps manage the OASIS PORTAL powered by WIzeHive and serves as a scholarship associate. During her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, playing soccer and spending time with her family and friends. Fun Fact: Sky can squat 275 lbs.