American Indian Leaders of Distinction
Celebrating our UND American Indian alumni leaders.
This permanent exhibition recognizes the exceptional contributions of these American Indian alumni to the University, the state and the communities they serve.
The alumni in this gallery received degrees from the University of North Dakota in education, business, counseling, art, psychology and nursing at undergraduate and graduate levels. They are recognized as leaders of their communities for their advocacy in improving health and wellbeing, preserving and promoting American Indian culture, and supporting education and diversity. They are committed to improving the lives of others.
The gallery, located in the Anna Mae Hughes Gallery Hughes Fine Arts Building, Room 103, is free and open to the public. Hours vary by semester. Please refer to signage for current hours.
American Indian Alumni Leaders
Donna Brown
Chief Diversity Officer, Minnesota State University, Moorhead
- B.S.Ed., 1991, Business & Vocational Education, University of North Dakota
- M.A., 1995, Counseling, University of North Dakota
- Ed.D., 2002, Educational Leadership, University of North Dakota
- Turtle Mountain Chippewa
After receiving her Associate of Science in Business from Sitting Bull College, Donna Brown became a three-time graduate of the University of North Dakota. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1991, followed by her Master of Arts in Counseling in 1995. Donna returned to UND and received her doctorate degree in educational leadership in 2002.
She has led an impressive career in higher education in a variety of student services roles. While at UND, Donna co-directed the Campus Suicide Prevention Program, coordinated the Indians Into Medicine Program (INMED), and was Assistant Director of American Indian Center. In 2007, she joined Minnesota State University, Moorhead in Counseling and Student Affairs, and eventually became the Associate Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Affirmative Action.
Donna Brown currently serves as the Chief Diversity Officer at Minnesota State University, Moorhead.
Photographer: Jackie Lorentz
Amber Finley
Executive Director, Northstar Council
- B.S., Fisheries & Wildlife Biology, 2006, University of North Dakota
- M.S., Environmental Management, 2008, University of San Francisco
- Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation
- Prairie Chicken Clan
Amber Finley is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation, and is also Spirit Lake Dakota and Standing Rock Lakota on her maternal grandmother’s side. Although she was raised in California, her home is Mandaree, located on the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.
Amber was a two-time graduate of Fort Berthold Community College before receiving her Bachelor of Science in Fisheries & Wildlife Biology from UND in 2006. In 2008, she earned her Master of Science in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco. Amber is a Gates Millennium Scholar alum, a lifetime Sequoyah member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and serves as a mentor for several diversity-based organizations
After returning to Grand Forks, Amber worked with other members of the American Indian community, exploring avenues for cultural awareness, development, and expression. In 2010, the group established Northstar Council, an organization with the mission of empowering indigenous people through research, education, and outreach. Finley is the Executive Director of Northstar Council.
Photographer: Jackie Lorentz
Shannon D. Fox
Faculty, Fort Berthold Community College
- U.S.A.F., 1987-1990, Lackland AFB Texas, Keesler AFB Biloxi Miss., Grand Forks AFB
- B.F.A., 1996, University of North Dakota
- M.F.A., 1999, University of North Dakota
- Vocational Certifications, Bismarck State College, Valley City State University
- Sahnish (Arikara), Santee Sioux
Shannon D. Fox (NeetAhKus na cita Kux) is a USAF Veteran, member of the Joseph Young Hawk Elmer Bear Post 253, White Shield, ND; Old Scouts Society Post No#1, White Shield, ND; Dead Grass Society White Shield, ND.
Fox was the first student to receive a graduate degree in Visual Arts with a major in Mixed Media at the University of North Dakota. His emphasis was in digital image printing.
After opening his own company, 3-Foxx Productions now White Pipe, he established a graphic arts program and developed a nine-month certificate program at Fort Berthold Community College. He currently teaches digital imaging, computers, drawing, painting and traditional native arts and crafts. While his own work has received national recognition, he counts his students’ successes among his proudest accomplishments.
Shannon’s work received recognition along with several other Native American artists in the book, Storytelling Time: Native North American Art from the Collections at the University of North Dakota. Several of his mixed media, digital manipulations, and art pieces are featured in this book.
Shannon Fox serves on the Board of Directors for the North Dakota Council on the Arts.
Photographer: Shawna Noel Schill
Sara Jumping Eagle
Pediatrician and Clinical Director
- B.S., Psychology, 1993, University of North Dakota
- M.D., Stanford University School of Medicine, 1998
- Oglala Lakota
Dr. Sara Jumping Eagle, an Oglala Lakota, is originally from Kyle, South Dakota.
In addition to her active role in many professional associations, Dr. Jumping Eagle works as a pediatrician and Clinical Director for the Standing Rock Indian Health Service in Fort Yates, North Dakota. She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Jumping Eagle worked in the Adolescent and Pediatrics Departments at Denver Children’s Hospital and served as a Pediatrician at Denver Indian Health and Family Services. She has conducted research with the University of Colorado. She formerly worked as a private practice pediatrician at the Mid Dakota Clinic and Saint Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Dr. Jumping Eagle’s medical interests include adolescent medicine, reproductive health, behavioral health and the prevention of high-risk behaviors among youth.
Photographer: Shawna Noel Schill
Arlene & Arliss Krulish
- B.S.N., Nursing, 2001, University of North Dakota
- Spirit Lake Nation
Arliss Krulish
Nurse
- B.S.N., Nursing, 2001, University of North Dakota
- Spirit Lake Nation
Early in their lives, these twin sisters from the Spirit Lake Nation, Arlene Krulish [left] and Arliss Krulish, promised their father that they would seek a good education. They successfully did so at the University of North Dakota, and they landed meaningful healthcare positions on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation near Devils Lake, North Dakota.
The sisters were the youngest of 13 children born to the late Anton Krulish and Cora Iceman and were raised in Fort Totten, N.D. After graduation from the University of North Dakota, the twins dedicated themselves to careers in the service of others.
Today, Arlene is the Chief Executive Officer at Indian Health Services on the Spirit Lake Health Center, and Arliss is a travel nurse, having previously served Director of Early Childhood Tracking for several years.
Photographer: Jackie Lorentz
Melvin Monette
Director of Scholarships and Programs at the American Indian Graduate Center
- B.S., Elementary Education, 2000, University of North Dakota
- M.S., Educational Leadership, 2004, University of North Dakota
- Turtle Mountain Chippewa
Melvin Monette, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, is a strong proponent of “Cradle to Spirit” learning as evidenced by his lifetime commitment to improving life throughout American Indian communities.
Melvin received his degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology from the University of North Dakota, and applied it to his role as a Student Affairs Officer for American Indian Center at UND. He later earned his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from UND, and spent time working in the Minnesota Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education.
During his career, Monette has advised American Indian and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) student groups, promoted diversity in education, facilitated national dialogues about student affairs. He has coordinated national efforts to foster discussions about critical issues in American Indian and Alaska Native higher education.
Melvin is the Director of Scholarships and Programs at the American Indian Graduate Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is also the current President of the National Indian Education Association’s Board of Directors.
Photographer: Shawna Noel Schill
Robert Shephard
Native American Tribal Relations Officer, Monarch America, Inc.
- B.S., Recreation & Leisure Services, 2008, University of North Dakota
- M.B.A., University of Mary, 2010
- Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
Robert Shepherd is the former Chairman of the Great Sioux Nation of South Dakota and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate.
Shepherd was an honorably discharged combat veteran before undertaking his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of North Dakota. He went on to earn his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Mary, Bismarck, N.D. In addition to serving as Chairman for Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and Great Sioux Nation of South Dakota, Shepherd was also Secretary of the National Congress of American Indians.
Robert Shepherd was recently appointed to the newly created position of Native American Tribal Relations Officer for Monarch America, Inc. in Denver, Colorado.
Photographer: Jackie Lorentz
Laurel Vermillion
President, Sitting Bull College
- B.S.Ed., Education, 1980, University of North Dakota
- M.Ed., Education Administration, 1992, University of North Dakota
- Ph.D., Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2005, University of North Dakota
- Hunkpapa-Lakota
Dr. Laurel Vermillion, a recognized member of the Hunkpapa-Lakota peoples of the Standing Rock Reservation, serves as President of Sitting Bull College.
Dr. Vermillion is an alumna of Sitting Bull College (SBC). She began her higher education at SBC when it was known as Standing Rock Community College (SRCC). She received her baccalaureate degree in Elementary Education through an articulation agreement between Standing Rock Community College and the University of North Dakota in 1980.
During her 14 years as an elementary teacher for the Fort Yates, ND BIA School, she pursued and completed a Masters degree in Education Administration from the University of North Dakota. Soon after, she relocated to Marty, SD and served as Principal at the Marty Indian School before moving back to the Standing Rock Reservation. In 1995, she accepted the position of Vice President of Academic Affairs at Sitting Bull College and eventually became Vice President of Operations in 1999. During her seven years as vice president of Operations at Sitting Bull College she completed a doctorate degree in Teaching and Learning, Higher Education from the University of North Dakota.
She is an active board member for numerous non-profit and community service groups, including the Standing Rock Education Consortium, Standing Rock Education Leaders, the North Dakota Association of Tribal Colleges (NDATC), Recruitment/Retention of American Indians into Nursing (RAIN), Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, Travois New Markets, American Indian College Fund (A*CF), and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC).
She is married to husband Duane and together they have three children and five grandchildren.
Photographer: Shawna Noel Schill
About the Gallery
These gallery portraits were photographed by University of North Dakota photographers Jackie Lorentz and Shawna Noel Schill, University & Public Affairs.
Special thanks to the UND Offices of the President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, American Indian Center, the Department of Art & Design, and the Vice President for University & Public Affairs.