Denver, Colo., February 19, 2026 — The American Indian College Fund welcomed seven new faculty fellows in the spring 2026 cohort. A total of $96,063 in funding was awarded to tribal college and university (TCU) faculty and staff to support their graduate studies. These fellows are working to increase the academic capacity of their five TCUs by pursuing higher and terminal degrees.

The College Fund’s Master’s Degree Fellowship supports TCU faculty and staff accepted to or enrolled in a master’s program in any field of study. Fellows receive awards of up to $25,000 for up to two years.

• Glen Philbrick, business faculty at Sitting Bull College, M.S. in Economics.
• Kyla Hammock (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), nursing faculty at Bay Mills Community College, M.S. in Nursing Education.

The College Fund’s Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship provides TCU faculty who are in the final stage of their doctoral program with a one-year award to complete their dissertation and other requirements for graduation. The goal is to support individual faculty members’ educational goals while increasing the number of TCU faculty members with a doctorate and cultivating leaders from within. Fellows may receive awards of up to $20,000 to pursue a doctorate in any field of study.

• Kim Parko, creative writing faculty at the Institute of American Indian Arts, Ph.D. in Transdisciplinary Studies.
• Dakota Goodhouse (Standing Rock Sioux), Native American studies and history instructor at United Tribes Technical College, Ph.D. in History.

The Nyswander–Blanchard Pre-Dissertation Fellowship supports TCU faculty who have been admitted or are enrolled in a doctoral degree program and are in the coursework phase of their studies. The fellowship was established in 2012 with support and funding from then College Fund Board Member Kim Blanchard and the Nyswander-Manson family. Fellows receive between $3,000 and $10,000 for one year. Funding must be used to cover expenses associated with degree attainment such as tuition, fees, and books.

• Jamie Figueroa, creative writing faculty at the Institute of American Indian Arts, Ph.D. in Visionary Practice and Regenerative Leadership.
• Tanecia Hallai, Exercise Science and Liberal Arts Department Chair and faculty at Bay Mills Community College, Ph.D. in Public Health with a community health specialization.
• Ashly Ellis, Nursing Program Director at Bay Mills Community College, Doctor of Nursing Education.

About the American Indian College Fund — The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 35 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided more than $23 million in scholarships and other student support for higher education in 2024-25. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $391 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of programs at the nation’s 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. It earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly Guidestar), and the “Best in America Seal of Excellence” from the Independent Charities of America. The College Fund was also named as one of the nation’s top 100 charities to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit collegefund.org.

Journalists—The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.