| Since the inception of the Mellon Career Enhancement Fellowship program, the College Fund has awarded 40 fellowships and 27 fellows have received their terminal degrees with the funding and support of the fellowship. The $40,000 fellowship allows faculty to reduce their teaching and administrative responsibilities, providing additional time needed to complete their dissertations and degrees. In return, fellows commit to remain as TCU faculty for two years after degree completion. The College Fund’s goal is to develop new leaders who are committed to furthering the tribal college movement and positioning the TCUs to offer advanced degrees, and increasing and retaining the number of credentialed faculty with terminal degrees at the 35 AIHEC-member TCUs nationwide. |
A team of external reviewers screened 2017-18 applications. The following scholars were named as the American Indian College Fund 2017-18 Mellon Career Enhancement Fellows:
Colleen ”Co” Carew, Social Work Program Department Chair at Salish Kootenai College. Co is pursuing a Ph.D. in Expressive Arts Therapy from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her proposed dissertation title is “Cultivating a Sense of Place through Indigenous Arts.”
Chris Fried, Director of Teacher Education Department at Sitting Bull College. Chris is pursuing a Ph.D. in the College of Education with an emphasis in School Improvement from the University of West Georgia. His proposed title is “The Role of Mentoring and Induction Programs for New Teachers in Schools Serving Native American Students.”
Monte Randall, Dean of Academic Affairs and Instructor of Tribal Services, Native American Studies, Gaming and General Education courses at the College of Muscogee Nation. Monte is pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in Higher Education Administration from Oral Roberts University. His proposed dissertation title is “The Effect of a Life Skills Curriculum on the Problem Solving Abilities of Tribal College Students.”
Lexie Tom, Native Studies Department Chair at Northwest Indian College. Lexie is pursuing a Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies from the University of Alaska – Fairbanks. Her proposed dissertation title is “An Indigenous Teacher Preparation Framework.”
In addition to the fellowship funding, fellows will participate in two retreats; receive monthly professional support from the College Fund; gather via video conference on a quarterly basis with cohort fellows; and build a network amongst cohort fellows, invited Native faculty mentors, guest speakers and advisory panel members for the program.
