American Indian College Fund

<div>Dr.<strong> </strong>Cheryl Crazy Bull (Sicangu Lakota), whose Lakota name Wacinyanpi Win means &#8220;they depend on her,&#8221; has more than 30 years of experience working in education for adults, higher education, and K-12 with Native American institutions. Dr. Crazy Bull is experienced with community and organization development with strong skills in strategic planning, assessment and evaluation, public relations, and fundraising.&nbsp; <br /></div><div>In addition to her experience with education, she has worked extensively with tribal economic development, entrepreneurship, and development of cultural arts and outreach programming. <br />Dr. Crazy Bull has served as the President of Northwest Indian College (NWIC), a tribally-controlled institution located on the Lummi Nation in Washington.&nbsp; During her tenure at NWIC, the college became a four-year degree-granting institution and completed substantial campus improvements, including seven new buildings as part of a capital campaign. Prior to joining NWIC, Dr. Crazy Bull served as the superintendent of St. Francis Indian School, and in several teaching and administrative capacities at Sinte Gleska University.<br /></div><div>Dr. Crazy Bull graduated from the University of South Dakota with a B.A. in Business Management and South Dakota State University (SDSU) with a Master&#8217;s in Education Administration.&nbsp; <br /></div>

<p>Tribal colleges have rewritten the history of Indian Education. For many Native people, education did not represent opportunity or hope; it represented a loss of identity and important knowledge based in our languages and relationships. Tribal colleges and universities restore that knowledge and rebuild relationships.<br /> <br /> Students at tribal colleges are among the most resilient, talented individuals in higher education today. They eagerly study, research, serve, and learn together. They overcome tremendous economic and personal obstacles in order to achieve their dreams of a higher education that provides them with both employment and the security of their rich tribal identity. Today this is even more important because economic policies and political approaches to social change are having a challenging impact on already impoverished tribal communities. Tribal college students with their talents and education can change the future of tribal nations.<br /> <br /> Our students hold the promise of opportunity and prosperity in their hearts and hands. I have witnessed how the resources of the friends and supporters of the American Indian College Fund made higher education possible for tribal college students. I have seen the many incredible improvements in human capital and physical capacity at the TCUs as a result of the investment of contributors in the Fund. <br /> <br /> As the incoming President of the American Indian College Fund, I look forward to creating more opportunities for investment in our tribal colleges and universities and most importantly in our students. I believe that the generosity of our contributors will continue to support the diversity of cultures represented by American Indian tribes that are such an important part of American democracy. <br /></p> <p><em>Pilamaya he</em>, thank you, for your friendship,<br /> <br /> <em>Wacinyanpi Win</em> (They Depend on Her)<br /> </p> <p><strong>Cheryl Crazy Bull</strong><br /> <strong><em>President, American Indian College Fund</em></strong></p>