Three American Indian College Fund Faculty Fellows Successfully Earn Doctorates

Denver, Colo., July 23, 2026 — Three recipients of the American Indian College Fund’s (College Fund) Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship have completed their dissertations and earned doctorate degrees.

The program supports educational goals of faculty members and works to increase the number of tribal college and university (TCU) faculty who hold a doctorate and to cultivate leadership from within. The fellowship is only open to TCU faculty, and recipients may pursue a doctorate in any field of study. The following fellows received their doctorate degree this semester:

• Bobbi Lynn Frederick (Crow Creek Dakota), United Tribes Technical College, Doctorate of Educational Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University. Frederick’s dissertation shares the results of a qualitative study she conducted to examine how cultural knowledge, traditions, and artistic practices function as sources of resilience.
• Jennifer Rodin, Sinte Gleska University, Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on mathematics education from the University of Wyoming. Rodin’s dissertation focuses on mentoring relationships between TCU Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students and community members.
• Matthew Yates (Mvskoke), College of the Muscogee Nation, Doctorate of Business Administration from Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Yates’ dissertation explores the effects of cultural dissonance within organizations.

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.