A search is underway for the inaugural executive director of the Dartmouth Tribal Sovereignty Institute. The institute, which launched in late July, is bringing together Dartmouth scholars and tribal leaders from across the country and internationally to create new knowledge and partnerships to help address real-world challenges identified by Indigenous communities.

The Thomas A. 1977 and Gina T. Russo 1977 Executive Director will be charged with shaping a strategic vision for the institute and fostering strategic partnerships across tribal nations, Indigenous organizations, higher education, philanthropy, and public leadership. The director will report to Jomysha Delgado Stephen, executive vice president, chief operating officer, and secretary of the Board of Trustees.

The new institute is overseeing and expanding two successful pilot initiatives: the Tribal Services and Solutions Project, which places current students and recent graduates with tribal nations to help address community priorities and needs, and the Tribal Leadership Academy, an annual professional development program for early career Native leaders in Indian Country. 

It also will promote interdisciplinary, solutions-focused research and convenings on issues that are suggested by Indigenous communities, and on which Dartmouth can partner. These may range from topics such as tribal sovereignty, Indigenous governance, federal Indian law, economic development, cultural vitality, community well-being, and environmental stewardship. Members of Dartmouth’s Native American Visiting Committee—which serves to support and advise Dartmouth senior leaders on topics relevant to Indigenous communities—have helped to shape and refine the future vision for the institute.

The search committee—which includes Dartmouth trustees, faculty, staff, and alumni—is being led by Trustee Hilary Tompkins ’90, a former Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

“I am honored to serve as the chair of Dartmouth College’s search committee for the inaugural executive director of the newly launched Dartmouth Tribal Sovereignty Institute,” says Tompkins, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. “Dartmouth had a profound impact on my life as a Native student, turning my dreams into reality. I am proud of my beloved alma mater’s commitment to supporting tribal leaders, self-governance, and sovereignty.”

In addition to Tompkins, the committee members are

• Martha Beattie ’76, member of the Native American Visiting Committee
• Adria Brown ’15, director of the Native American Program and member of the Chickasaw Nation
• Emily Burlij, director of federal relations
• Sarah Harris ’00, member of the Board of Trustees and the Native American Visiting Committee and vice chairwoman of the Mohegan Tribal Council
• Mae Hueston ’86, president and executive director at Nihizaad Nizhoni and a member of the Navajo Nation
• Dino Koff, assistant vice president and executive director of financial aid
• John McKnight, dean of undergraduate student affairs
• Jami Powell, associate director of curatorial affairs, curator of Indigenous art, and a citizen of the Osage Nation
• AlexAnna Salmon ’08, member of the Native American Visiting Committee, Yup’ik and Aleut, and president of the Igiugig Tribal Village Council
• Jomysha Delgado Stephen, executive vice president, chief operating officer, and secretary to the Board of Trustees
• Melanie Taylor, Frank R. Mori Professorship in the Arts and Sciences and chair, Department of Native American and Indigenous Studies

Applications and nominations are being accepted by the search firm Isaacson, Miller.