Congratulations to Dr. Leander “Russ” McDonald on being named the College Fund’s 2025-26 Tribal College and University President Honoree of the Year. Dr. McDonald shares how healing, humility, learning, and evolving have not only shaped his mindset as president of United Tribes Technical College but a life dedicated to others.
The Ichigo Foundation has gifted the American Indian College Fund a $100,000 award to support the Wounspe E’cetkiya O’takuye Piya A’yazunta Pi (Reconnecting Relatives to Education) Program over the next two years. With its first four graduates celebrated in 2025, this program, that provides resources to help American Indians who’ve had encounters with the justice system complete their high school equivalency, hopes to strengthen its partnership and explore other learning opportunities.
The American Indian College Fund honored Pendleton Woolen Mills’ long-time Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Robert Christnacht, at their headquarters on Tuesday, February 10 for his dedication to Native higher education ahead of his planned retirement this spring.
The American Indian College Fund awarded a total of $96,063 to seven new faculty fellows in the spring 2026 cohort. This program supports tribal college and university faculty and staff in their graduate studies to increase the academic capacity of TCUs.
In recognition of the fact that the leadership experiences of Indigenous women is an under-researched topic, two Native leaders at the American Indian College Fund co-authored a journal article on this topic. Their team analyzed 18 peer-reviewed articles to identify key concepts and available support for Indigenous women’s leadership.
| Winter 2026 | Circle of Hope Setting Native Students Up for Success Dear Friends and Relatives, Typically, this is the time of year when things rest, restoring themselves for spring growth. Where I come from, the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota, animals...
American Indian College Fund Scholarship Season Opens February 1 Comprehensive Support and a Streamlined System Aid Prospective Applicants and Funded Scholars Denver, Colo., January 27, 2026 — Applications for an American Indian College Fund (College Fund) scholarship...
Thank you, Faculty.Look around, and you’ll see the many ways faculty of tribal colleges and universities support their students. They’re the heart of our institutions and the anchors of Native communities. Every day, they show up and embody the truth that teaching is...
Winter is a special season, full of holidays, good food, good company. And no matter the culture, storytelling and the spirit of reflection, growth, giving, and gratitude take center stage this time of year. It is no different for Native peoples, many of whom wait to tell certain stories on long, cold winter nights.
