Laurence Gishey, Co-Chair: Mr.
Gishey has nearly thirty years experience in higher education serving in many
roles including student advisor, Indian education advocate, tribal/university
program director, community college president, fund raiser and advisor to the
university president. He served and continues to serve on state and national
task forces, boards and commissions in addition to area school, education and
community college boards, non-profit organizations, museums, and Indian
organizations. He served as a consultant to Indian educational institutions,
community colleges, industries, utility authorities, private foundations, and
many state and federal agencies. He received an undergraduate degree in Business
Administration and a Masters in Education from Arizona State University. 
Dr. Octaviana
Trujillo, Co-Chair:
Dr. Charles Connell: Dr. Charles O'Connell-Education:
PhD in History, Rutgers University (New Jersey), with focus on Medieval Europe.
His current position are serving as Professor of History, NAU, teaching
courses in Historiography, Medieval Europe, the Crusades, War and Peace,
England, East and West 1200-1600, and Professional Development for Graduate
Students. Research interests include Medievalism in 19th and 20th century
England and America, public opinion and propaganda in the Middle Ages, East-West
relations in the Middle Ages, the Mongols and Europe, the Crusades. Published
three books (edited) and numerous articles in these areas of research. Serving
on numerous University committees in addition to NAC (e.g. Faculty senate, Past
President, President; Strategic Planning Committee; Liberal Arts Committee;
Freshman Year Task Force; and others).Administrative Experience: Provost, NAU, 1995-99; Senior VP for Academic Affairs, University of South Alabama, 1991-95; Acting Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, ASU West, 1999-90; Director of Arts and Sciences, ASU West, 1987-89; ACE Fellow 1986-7
Community Service: President, Board of Trustees of Museum of Northern Arizona, and member of the Board from 1996-2003; Executive Committee, Northern Arizona United Way, 1996-99.
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Dr. Willard Gilbert: Dr. Willard Sakiestewa Gilbert is a Professor and Department Chair in the College of Education at Northern Arizona University. He has served as a faculty member, researcher and administrator during the last 19 years at NAU. His expertise is in curriculum and instruction, bilingual/multicultural education, and Indian education. He has obtained seventeen million dollars in federal grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Department of Education for Native American and Hispanic students, teachers and parents. His consultancies have included the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) and the Navajo Nation Consortium NSF Rural Systemic Initiative. Dr. Gilbert was the recipient of the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE) Award, Washington, D.C. and the President’s Award from NAU. He currently serves as President of the Hopi Education Endowment Fund.
Mehrdad Khatibi:
Mehrdad Khatibi is the Associate Director for the
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern Arizona
University. Mehrdad joined ITEP in July of 2003. Prior to working with ITEP,
Mehrdad worked for the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico, as Director for the Jemez
Department of Resource Protection. Mehrdad has been working in the Native
American environmental and natural resource management field since 1996. His
work experience includes: EPA Region 6 Tribal Operations Committee delegate;
Department of Energy (DOE) State Tribal Government Working Group (STGWG)
delegate; New Mexico Inter-tribal Resource Advisory Council (IRAC); development
of multi-media environmental monitoring programs; budget development and
management; and Strategic resource management and planning. Mehrdad is a
graduate of Western Washington University, Huxley College of Environmental
Studies and has a B.S. degree in Environmental Policy and Assessment. As ITEP's
Associate Director, Mehrdad will work closely with the ITEP Director to provide
leadership in strategic planning, coordinate ITEP's multi-media environmental
program activities and initiatives, provide support for new program development,
university-tribal relations, coordinate ITEP's programs with other university
environmental initiatives; management of ITEP's human and financial resources.Return to Top
Dr. Doreen Martinez: Dr. Doreen E. Martinez paternal grandmother is Mescalero, Apache and paternal grandfather is Mexican possibly Yaqui. Her maternal grandparents are “Pennsylvania Dutch.” Dr. Martinez is an Assistant Professor in the Women’s Studies program and has a PhD in Sociology. She is “first generation college student,” and holds Bachelor’s in Psychology with an emphasis in Group Dynamics and a Master’s of Science degree in “Sport and Exercise Science.” During her master’s degree pursuit, she focused her research on team dynamics; racial and gender implications such as player positions, coaching opportunities; and fan behavior and violence. She ended up working in Student Affairs for nine years at four different institutions. Her primary responsibilities were community development, leadership training, and diversity programming. She wanted to become a member of the Commission because of her journey and all the lessons that she learned that she believe can be beneficial to share. She hopes that she can continue to offer opportunities and be of assistance to communities. She is especially interested in developing long-term relationships between institutional entities and the various Native Nations. In the end she hopes to address issues of oppression and discrimination but ultimately embrace and give beauty the space to flourish.
Kimberly Smith (Student):
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Catherine Talakte:
Catherine Talakte is currently the Interim
Director of Native American Student Services (NASS). A member of the Hopi
Tribe, Ms. Talakte has been at Northern Arizona University for over 18 years.
Serving as a Counselor for the Educational Talent Search Program (1987-1990);
Project Director for the Upward Bound Program (1990-1994) before being asked to
assist in developing a Native American College Retention Program which later
developed into NASS. She has been with NASS for 10 years and served as a
Retention Specialist and Assistant Director. She has served on various
committees focusing on Native American recruitment and retention issues. A
current member of the Student Affairs Assessment Team, Enrollment Management
Student Affairs Strategic Planning Committee, Hopi Education Endowment Fund, and
Academic Advisement Council, Ms. Talakte’s major areas of interest involve
Native American College Retention, Program Assessment and Data collection and
the production of the annual NAU Native American Report. She possesses a Master
degree in Counseling and a Bachelors degree in Psychology.Dr. Elizabeth Wabindato:
Dr. Angela Willeto: Dr. Angela A. Willeto is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation; she is Ta’neeszahnii and born for Kiyaa’aanii, maternal grandfather is Bitahnii and paternal grandfather is Ashiihi. She earned graduate degrees in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (M.A. 1990; Ph.D. 1996). She’s currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She has been on the faculty at NAU since 1995. Areas of expertise: sociology of the family, social stratification/inequality, life course, and American Indians. Professor Willeto’s most recent research has been on producing well-being indicators data books for American Indian/Alaska Native children, youths and families for 14 states. This research reduces the disparity in well-being indicator data for Native Americans, an underserved population.
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Bryan Whish: 
Dr. David
Camacho, Ex-Officio: Dr.
David Camacho is currently the Special Assistant to the President, Dr. John D.
Haeger. Return to Top