American Indian College Fund Welcomes New Cohort of Faculty Fellows
Denver, Colo., August 25, 2026 — The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) is supporting six new faculty fellows with funding to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees to enhance the academic programs at their tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). Funding for this cohort comes from two fellowship programs administered by the College Fund.
Two faculty received College Fund fellowships. Gabrille Kennedy (Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan), general science learning assistant at Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College in Mount Pleasant, Mich., is pursuing a Masters of Science in general biology. She received the College Fund Master’s Fellowship which supports TCU faculty and staff accepted to or enrolled in a master’s degree program. Fellows receive awards of up to $25,000 for up to two years under this program.
Nyleta Belgarde (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), arts and humanities faculty member at Leech Lake Tribal College in Cass Lake, Minn., is pursuing a Ph.D. in education, culture and teaching, with an emphasis in Ojibwemowin reclamation. She was awarded the College Fund Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, which 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 program aims to support individual faculty members’ educational goals while increasing the number of TCU faculty members with a doctorate and cultivating leaders from within. Fellows receive awards of up to $20,000.
Four faculty were awarded a Nyswander–Blanchard Pre-Dissertation Fellowship. Roxanne Frenchman (Oneida Nation), Assistant Professor of Business at Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago, Neb., is working on a Doctorate of Business Administration; Rosemary Matt (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation), Native language teacher education chair and faculty member at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Mont., is pursuing an Ed.D. in educational leadership; Kimberly Pinson, early childhood education faculty member at Bay Mills Community College in Brimley, Mich., is pursuing a Ph.D. in education-curriculum and instruction; and Jenny Serpa, adjunct instructor and Site Manager at Northwest Indian College-Nisqually in Olympia, Wash., who is pursuing a Ph.D. in leadership studies.
The Nyswander–Blanchard Pre-Dissertation Fellowship supports TCU faculty who have been admitted to or are enrolled in a doctoral 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 $12,500 for one year. Funding must be used to cover expenses associated with degree attainment such as tuition, fees, and books.
About the American Indian College Fund — The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 37 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 35 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 (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.
