National Center’s Chris James Shares Insights on Business Education in Indian Country

December 20, 2024/in News, Sherry Salway Black

Written by Sherry Salway Black, Johnson Scholarship Foundation board vice chair

Over the past 30 years, the Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF) has been supporting Native students pursuing business education through scholarships at tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), Native-serving institutions and other universities.

Sherry Salway Black is Board Vice Chair of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation. She is wearing a black blazer and has short silver hair.

Sherry Salway Black, JSF board vice chair, sat down with Chris James, president & CEO of the National Center.

The focus on education comes from the founder, Ted Johnson, Sr. The “business” education focus was the result of site visits to Indian Country. In the early and mid 1990s Ted Johnson, Jr. and Malcolm Macleod, son and nephew of JSF founders, respectively, traveled and met with TCU and tribal leaders. They heard about—and saw firsthand—the need for more economic activity in Native communities. They knew it was a golden opportunity to help make change.

Given JSF’s mission and focus, I was excited to be talking with the head of the oldest, largest business-focused organization serving Indian Country—and someone with significant business knowledge and experience personally, to get his take on the importance of Native students pursuing business education and degrees. Here is what Chris James has to say.

Q: Given your longtime involvement in Native business, what do you think is the role of business education for Native people?

A: Tribes continue to grow their enterprises. They need to have people, preferably from their communities, to manage these entities. We need to have people trained in management, finance, accounting, marketing, and other disciplines. Having a pipeline of Native people educated in business is important to meet the needs of tribal businesses.

Alaska Native corporations have done this well, supporting their members through scholarships, internships, and pathways to management. Ho Chunk Inc. has also done this well, building a pipeline of tribal citizens to move into their expanding tribal enterprises. I know there are other tribes doing this as well.

How can we create management jobs within our companies that are accessible to our own people? With the growth of tribal enterprises and the increasing sophistication of tribal government programs, sometimes in the billions, we need people from our communities with management experience. We need team members with the community and cultural knowledge and business education and sense to achieve success.

It’s important to engage youth early. Youth may not see many pathways growing up on the reservation. I didn’t really see many when I graduated high school. I had the option to go to college or to stay at home and work in the family business. Creating these pathways to college, entrepreneurship, and work is important.

Citizen entrepreneurs are important because then you have a business owner—and every time you have a business owner, you have a potential community leader. These are the people who may become leaders of the tribe, council members, school board members—making important decisions for their communities.

Q: What advice would you give to Native students who want to study business?

A: My advice is to look for a mentor. This person could be from inside your community or from the outside. Look for someone to whom you can just say, “Hey, how did you do it? What was your path? What classes did you take in college? What motivated you to go to college? What opportunities were there for you inside or outside of your community?”

Chris James is president and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.

And do not be afraid to ask questions. It’s okay to send emails to folks and say, “I know you have a successful business. I’d love to have a conversation.”

Try to find someone who might have an opportunity. The National Center works with hundreds of businesses throughout Indian Country. There could be a mentor or internship opportunity there. And if you are told “no” the first time, don’t get discouraged. You may have to go to 20 people before someone says, “Yes, I can help you with this.” You have to be the one empowered. Everyone can give you resources but you have to find the strength within yourself and know how to use those resources to be successful.

Q: At the annual JSF Entrepreneurship Scholarship meeting when we bring together representatives of the schools we are actively working with or have endowments, the need for mentors and internships is always a high priority. What advice would you give to Native business students who are looking for mentors and internship placements?

A: #1. You have to search, dig, and put yourself out there. Use all the technology you have available to search for opportunities. Use artificial intelligence, like chatGPT, to help you. And think through the type of internship you want. Use your community networks. There may be opportunities working for your tribe, perhaps in offices you hadn’t thought about before.

#2. Make sure you are prepared. Take some time to work on your resume—work with your school, parents, and even technology to get your resume up to par. It may take someone else to see or hear about your experience and [help you] present it accurately.

#3. Get out of your comfort zone. You need to be proactive and engaged if you want to get to the next level. Instead of waiting for someone to ask you to do something, be there with ideas. Never go to a meeting with an empty notebook. You bring your ideas to the table. That’s going to help you be prepared when you get the job or the internship.

The National Center has this great recognition program, “40 Under 40”, and you can go to the website to see all 600 amazing Native people over the past 15 years. This list could be one of those resources to look for a potential mentor.

Q: What are the types of businesses that a younger generation might be interested in starting?

A: There are so many exciting areas where we see potential growth. These go hand-in-hand with those mentioned in the part one of our interview—technology, exporting to international markets, federal contracting, and environmental businesses. Let me focus specifically on one sector: agriculture. We have land that is either leased to others or not used efficiently. How can we put it to more productive use? Farming itself has changed since I grew up. Now technology can analyze specific needs for specific products. Food sustainability and safety are big challenges now—and places to look for opportunities.

And I want to be sure to mention the growing number of Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs)—close to 70 certified organizations across 27 states. These organizations make capital, training, and technical assistance available to Native people with existing and startup businesses. The National Center recently launched its own CDFI—Native Edge Finance to focus on clean energy projects.

Native people—particularly students in business-related degree programs, have so many exciting opportunities available today.

Author’s note: This interview took place before the December 18 announcement of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott awarding more than $100 million to Native CDFIs in the United States.

Full Circle: A University of Florida Journey

December 16, 2024/in News, University of Florida

One of the first MFOS graduates looks back on the program’s generational impact, celebrates her daughter’s own University of Florida journey

This article was written by our grantee partner, the University of Florida, about a Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship (MFOS) recipient. JSF helps support this nationally recognized program through a matching grant. The article is shared here with permission.

Khrysten Sears Spencer (B.A. ’09) wore an orange University of Florida (UF) alumni T-shirt and a blue Gator logo belt as she walked up the large white staircase in the Reitz Union. Her eyes widened as she took out her phone, paused and used it to scan the interior.

“It’s changed so much,” she said as she followed the crowd toward the freshman orientation.

Sears Spencer’s daughter, Allannah Dean, a member of the class of 2028, stuck to her side as they found seats in the first row in the ballroom for the beginning of Preview. They opened their pamphlets and chatted with another Gator family seated behind them before the speaker began.

This first-year orientation experience isn’t new to them.

Eighteen years earlier, Sears Spencer traveled with Allannah, who was under a year old, from their home in Belle Glade—a rural town lined with sugar cane and spotted with football fields about 255 miles south of Gainesville—to begin her own freshman year. It was a life-changing feat she may not have managed without being accepted into the inaugural 2006 class of Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars (MFOS), UF’s nationally known and recognized program for low-income, first-generation college students.

College Dreams Come to Life

Sears Spencer found out that she would be the valedictorian of Glades Central Community High School the day after she gave birth to Allannah. Both of her parents attended college but neither graduated. Her father was a carpenter and her mother worked as a child-care provider.

Despite her stellar academic achievements, doubt crept in. Some people told her she should shelve her dreams because of the responsibilities of motherhood. But she refused to give up.

“Just proving them wrong. It could be done. It would be difficult, but not impossible,” she said.

Sears Spencer’s mother was initially worried for her daughter. She had been a teen mom herself and intimately understood those complexities and hardships. But she quickly turned her concern to support, telling Sears Spencer to hunt for scholarships that would ease her financial burden. By then, she had already secured a Bright Futures scholarship to cover 75% of her tuition. They both hoped a full ride opportunity would present itself.

That’s where the newly created Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship came in.

Leslie Pendleton, founding director of MFOS and now executive director of University Initiatives for UF Advancement, said former UF president Bernie Machen drove the program’s creation. He had assembled a similar program for first-generation students during his prior role as president at the University of Utah and dreamed of doing something larger and more impactful at UF.

“There is a hole in our financial-aid system,” Machen said when the program was announced in 2006.

He went on to describe how the University of Florida was losing out on hundreds of students every year who might qualify for Bright Futures scholarships but otherwise didn’t have the money to pay for room, board and assorted living costs. The year before MFOS began, there were more than 400 applicants from families making less than $40,000 who were ultimately admitted to UF but decided not to enroll. The MFOS program was designed to close that gap and ensure those students—students like Sears Spencer—could not only afford to enroll in UF, they could pursue their studies debt-free.

Khrysten Sears Spencer (left) with her daughter, Allannah, at the University of Florida. Photo by Jennifer Romero (B.S. ’19).

Pendleton helped build the early stages of MFOS. Not only did the university invest in scholarship support from the beginning, but it also provided numerous resources like peer mentors, financial literacy education and community building activities to make these students feel at home on UF’s campus.

“It wasn’t just, ‘Hey, we’re going to give you a scholarship, figure it out.’ It was, ‘We’re going to give you the support to succeed and thrive here,’” Pendleton said.

The vision was to build an inclusive community of scholars who would be the first in their families to graduate from college and who would go on to share their success across their communities, she said. Access was the key. President Machen wanted to make sure the University of Florida was within reach for all high-achieving students, not just those who could afford it.

Sears Spencer’s inaugural MFOS class had more than 400 students. Pendleton said it was important to start big so the incoming scholars felt like they were part of a community and were able to navigate their early college lives together.

The program has now grown into a national standout. MFOS students graduate at the same rate as their peers, they are successful in the workplace, and they give back to the university faster than anyone else, Machen said in a recent interview.

“When you really go inside these kids’ lives and look at what they’ve been through to get here, you can’t believe it,” Machen said. “What I came to realize is that we don’t make them special. We find them, and they are special. We just give them a little nurturing and a little help, and then they do the rest on their own.”

A Life-changing Gator Experience

Sears Spencer and her mother drove to Gainesville a week or two before officially moving to find a daycare that was reasonably priced and close to campus. She didn’t have a car her first year, so the woman who ran the daycare would pick up Allannah in the mornings.

Khrysten Sears Spencer holds a photo of herself with her daughter, Allannah, taken years ago. Photo by Jennifer Romero (B.S. ’19).

She was also able to form a small community on campus. Her and another student who had two children would schedule playdates with Allannah, and a friend who Sears Spencer knew from high school offered to help whenever she could.

“I didn’t really have the traditional college experience because I was known as the girl who took her kid to college with her,” she said. “I had to take care of her. I had to get through it. That was sort of my mindset. I don’t have the luxury of playing around. I have someone to raise.”

During her time at UF, she did her best to experience campus life, going to sporting events and even having dinner at the president’s house where she met her scholarship’s namesake, President Machen. Sears Spencer graduated from UF in 2009 within three years, all while raising Allannah.

If not for MFOS and the University of Florida, Sears Spencer said she might never have found her current career path. She started as a psychology major but transitioned to a communications science and disorders degree. She now works as a speech-language pathologist in the Palm Beach County school district, where she diagnoses and treats kids who have speech and language disorders. She didn’t initially plan to go back to her hometown of Belle Glade, but she is happy to give back to her community.

“I do feel like being able to go off to UF, have everything paid for, that I was able to get into a career that I had never heard of before,” she said. “I am extremely grateful for it. I do not know where I would be without it because it really changed my whole path in life.”

I do feel like being able to go off to UF, have everything paid for, that I was able to get into a career that I had never heard of before. I am extremely grateful for it [MFOS]. I do not know where I would be without it because it really changed my whole path in life. —Khrysten Sears Spencer

Through Her Daughter’s Eyes

Allannah Dean also went to Glades Central Community High School, where she graduated No. 3 in her class and received a full Bright Futures scholarship.

When she graduated, she gave a farewell speech to her class. As Sears Spencer sat in the stands listening to her daughter, she thought about how just 18 years earlier, she delivered a similar speech to the same high school with an infant Allannah in the stands.

Allannah’s final college decision came down to the University of Miami and UF, but she found herself drawn to her mother’s alma mater. She visited Gainesville in the summer of 2023 for the UF Student Science Training Program, and she said she liked the college-town feel.

“I was raised to be a Gator,” she said. “It was a no-brainer.”

Allannah plans to pursue an engineering degree—for now she has her sights set on nuclear engineering. She started UF in Summer 2024 in STEPUP (the Successful Transition and Enhanced Preparation for Undergraduates program) within the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. The program offers an accelerated transition into university life and connects students to a community of mentors, faculty and industry leaders.

Allannah’s University of Florida bucket list consists of studying abroad, cheering at Gator football games and sunbathing at Lake Wauburg.

Sears Spencer said Allannah is quiet but more independent than she was at her age. She filled out every college application and financial aid paperwork on her own, and she was proactive at finding organizations to join at UF. But she still makes time to call her mom every day.

“This is where it all began for us,” she said. “I tell her all the time, ‘Enjoy your college experience. You’ll make lifelong friends, enjoy it. Don’t get too crazy, definitely, but enjoy it and also take advantage of the opportunities.’”

Sears Spencer knows firsthand the power of those opportunities. As she reminisced about her own time at UF, she said she’s grateful for how the MFOS program positively shaped her and Allannah’s lives and appreciates how special it is to bring the story full circle through her daughter’s own UF experience.

National Center’s Chris James Shares Insights on the State of Native Business and What’s Ahead

November 22, 2024/in National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, News, Sherry Salway-Black

Written by Sherry Salway Black, Johnson Scholarship Foundation board vice chair

There are few people in Indian Country who have the well-rounded experience and depth of knowledge about Native business and economic development than Chris James. He comes from a family of small business owners in western North Carolina, the homelands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He grew up with firsthand experience. And he learned more about business in his youth through Junior Achievement USA, coming full circle as he now sits on the board of the national Junior Achievement organization.

Sherry Salway Black, JSF board vice chair, sat down with Chris James, president & CEO of the National Center.

Before he left his Cherokee home, he served as staff for the Sequoyah Fund, Inc., a Native Community Development Financial Institution (NCDFI)—serving his home community with business technical assistance and capital. Chris took that hands-on experience to Washington, D.C, where he worked as a liaison between the Treasury Department CDFI Fund, Tribal governments, and other federal agencies. He was appointed in 2011 by President Barack Obama to serve as Associate Administrator at the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he led the Offices of Field Operation and Native American Affairs and launched the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

In 2017 Chris became the president and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (National Center), the oldest and largest Native organization providing business development and training. During his tenure, he doubled the National Center’s revenue, expanding procurement and training programs throughout the country while boosting attendance at the annual Reservation Economic Summit by nearly 30 percent in the last five years.

I was fortunate to visit recently with Chris and his amazing staff in their Mesa, Ariz. headquarters—and participate in a podcast episode (ep. 14). As a quid pro quo, Chris kindly agreed to an interview with me to honor Native American Heritage Month.

Q: Describe your view of the state of Native business and entrepreneurship today and the major changes over the past 20 to 30 years.

A: I see the state of Native business and entrepreneurship from a global perspective in two key areas: growth in diversification and growth in federal and corporate partnerships.

Gaming was a new sector for tribes 30 to 40 years ago. Going from bingo halls to casino gaming was a big transition in the late 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s and had been the laser focus of tribal economic development. Now gaming is just one piece. Diversification of tribal businesses might include agriculture or building an IT company or government contracting. There are so many diverse business opportunities. These businesses can be tribally- or individually-owned.

Q: Could you explain what you mean by federal and corporate partnerships?

A: Twenty years ago, a federal agency or federal program may have had one Native coordinator, but they were few and far between. Even 15 years ago when I was in the federal government, I was sometimes the only Native voice in the room. Fast forward to today—the Biden Administration has really increased that number. This growth is a big deal. Now, instead of one voice in the room, you often have four to five voices. That’s all the way from the White House level and trickling down through the agencies. The National Center did a profile in 2020 of Native individuals in key positions in the federal government. We identified more than 10 in high-level key leadership and decision-making positions, starting with Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland.

Chris James, president and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

Q: Is the same true for corporations?

A: Yes, it is. Twenty years ago, we rarely had an office or a person who was dedicated to Native American business and communities. Now Amazon, Walmart, and Alaska Airlines all have coordinators. Nike has a huge division—N7. It’s the Native voice not only diversifying the corporation but also advocating for more Native businesses in the supply chain, more support for youth programs, and support for more Native employees. We are well under one percent in those corporations, but there is an increased focus. Those employees are having an impact.

And, corporations are starting to understand the diversity of Native business. Fifteen or 20 years ago, these corporations may have had a notion of a Native business as an artisan—which is a great business. Now they are seeing that a Native business actually has the capacity to do a half-a-billion-dollar contract. Corporations now want to partner more with Native businesses.

Q: What do you see in the future for Native businesses?

A: I see the trends above continuing. Tribally-owned corporations will continue to grow and diversify. This helps the community with job creation; it helps the community foster a sense of entrepreneurial spirit, and it’s an income stream for the tribe to diversify their own portfolio. I don’t see that stopping. In fact, I think there are even more resources out there to help them grow. About two years ago the National Center launched an export office. We’re helping not only individuals, but tribes get into international markets. About 96 percent of companies do business only in the US. There are markets outside the U.S. Our tribally- and individually-owned businesses are seeing those opportunities and going after them.

There has been an emphasis in the Biden Administration with the CHIPS and Science Act, bringing more technology back to the United States, especially manufacturing semiconductors and microchips. Tribes need to be able to access these opportunities—from manufacturing all the way to an individual being part of a subcontract. It also brings in more job creation for our communities.

Another opportunity is to create more environmentally friendly businesses, looking for ways to create cheaper and more sustainable energy sources. We need to think about helping the earth heal itself. It could include solar, wind, or hydrogen energy technology. Tribes are looking at those environmental projects to not only support their communities by creating more energy for environmental sustainability, but also creating more jobs.

Q: What about the role of the individual entrepreneur or small business owner in the future?

A: There is also more focus on the citizen entrepreneur. There are opportunities with the growing number of Native CDFIs—especially the “legacy” NCDFIs that have been around for over 20 years.

When I started in the CDFI industry, we were like a start-up business. We struggled, constantly looking for funds, trying to get more clients and projects; trying to figure out our role in the community. Now over 20 to 30 years later, the established CDFIs, the legacy CDFIs—there are probably about 10 or so that I could name. They now have a track record, they know their communities, they are innovating, and they’ve built programs specifically around the needs of their communities and supporting that entrepreneur—the citizen entrepreneur—giving them the tools to build sustainable businesses, supporting them with capital and crucial training. The CDFIs have done well in our communities and will continue to do well. We need to look at the impact and what has been created over the years. The impact is multi-generational, and the institutions are stable. Now there are more than 65 NCDFIs in 27 states and more in the pipeline—supporting Native citizen entrepreneurs.

Stay tuned for more insights from Chris James this December in a second article, which will focus on Native business students and business education.

Gonzaga Alum Uses Business Leadership & Fitness to Serve Native Communities

October 18, 2024/in Gonzaga University, News

Danny Brigman (Spokane/Kamloops) was always prepared to give back—and his experience at Gonzaga University empowered him to make that desire a reality.

Growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation, Brigman says its sense of community inspired him to pursue an education.

“I realized I wanted to set the bar higher for my family and future kids,” he shares. “We have so much potential but there’s a lack of resources [here]. This being my home I wouldn’t feel right to get my education and never come back. This reservation and community have given so much to me, I want to give back.”

He credits his family for his success, as they were a big source of encouragement.

“I’m thankful for my parents. My dad helped build that [sense of community] with me,” Brigman says. “He took me hunting out here. My earliest memories were of spending time in the woods with him.”

After taking classes at Spokane Community College for two years, he transferred to Washington State University (WSU). In 2015, he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics, with a focus on comparative ethnic studies.

While academics came naturally to Brigman, the first-gen student had to learn how to navigate college life—especially transitioning from a small high school to college classes with hundreds of students.

While attending WSU, Brigman learned about Gonzaga’s Master of Business Administration in American Indian Entrepreneurship (MBA-AIE), which JSF helped launch in 2001. The program aims to meet the unique needs of Indigenous students living on reservations and spark economic growth. It’s open to enrolled members of federally or state-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. To date, it’s the only MBA program of its kind in the United States.

“I knew the program was meant for me,” he says. A year after earning his bachelor’s, he began the program. During his time at Gonzaga, Brigman worked for the Spokane Tribe of Indians as a bookkeeper and later as the purchasing manager.

He shares that, in addition to honing specific business and technical skills, the MBA-AIE program helped him find his voice.

“MBAs prepare you, but you don’t realize it until you look back or a situation comes up,” he says. “Now, I have the confidence to give a solid answer—and people are listening. Before I would have ideas but not say anything. I feel like that’s a big part of what helped me get ready for my career.”

Brigman earned his MBA in 2018. Now, he’s the finance director for the Spokane Indian Housing Authority. Since undertaking the role, he has led a $3.49 million purchase of housing units in Spokane for tribal members. It was the first time the organization purchased housing outside of the reservation’s boundaries.

In 2021, Brigman organized a 215-mile relay race in honor of the 215 children whose remains were found at Kamloops Indian Residential School in Canada.

An avid runner, he’s also developing an app called Homelands, which brings land acknowledgment to the world of fitness—connecting people to the Native lands on which they walk, hike, run, or explore.

The idea came in 2021 after Brigman learned about the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, Canada where the remains of over 200 Native children were found. He wanted to respond in some way, especially since some of his relatives went through Kamloops.

His response? Raise awareness by running 215 miles for all 215 children. He organized a special relay event, which received an outpour of support—and participants.

Since then, Brigman has organized multiple events. In 2022, he organized a virtual run challenge, where participants logged their miles and flagged the Native lands on which they ran. That sparked an idea: engage everyday athletes by enabling them to track their fitness goals and learn the rich histories of Native lands and peoples.

He fleshed out the idea with an app development company—determining timelines and phases, branding the company, building a social media presence, and more.

Eventually, Brigman envisions Wikipedia-type pages with aggregated data and verified oral histories of tribes. He also aspires to create a youth cross-country team on his reservation and inspire healthy living.

“I’m just looking to get [the app] out there,” he says. “I would love to take the profits of the app and put it back into my community. It might take a bit longer to build, but I’m open to seeing what happens next.”

A Summer Abroad: University of North Carolina-Pembroke Student Reflects on Trip to France

September 20, 2024/in News, University of North Carolina-Pembroke

This reflection was written by Travis Floyd, a University of North Carolina-Pembroke (UNCP) business student, who traveled to France this past summer through one of his classes.

UNCP is one of the institutions JSF supports through its entrepreneurship scholarship program, which supports Indigenous business and entrepreneurship students with demonstrated financial need. The reflection is shared here with permission.

As I currently sit here, I’ve thought about the ways and manner in which to describe my journey this summer to France. No matter what words I put, [they] will fail in comparison to the experience I had.

Let me first start by saying again that I am truly humbled by the support that I have received from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation. As an older man, I was terrified of the notion of going back to school; [JSF] eased that burden more than I could have ever expected.

As a southern Native willing to learn of others’ traditions and ways, I was eager beyond measure to go to France. Our first day in Montpellier was an extremely beautiful one, with perfect weather, perfect views, and friendly people all around. I experienced so many new things—from the rich, beautiful history of the city and the wonderful, unique food to their rich and beautiful art.

Travis Floyd at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Most importantly, I made friends! [These] are genuine friends that I still talk to, almost daily. The connections I made with professors and everything I learned about French culture [enabled me] to experience things that I’ve only dreamt about!

Toward the end of my journey, I spent some time in Paris! I was able to see the Louvre, and the most enjoyable moment was climbing the Eiffel Tower. I hold that moment dearly because my uncle passed when I was just a young boy. We were very close; he visited the Eiffel Tower during his time in the Army. I was able to video call my mother, and we shared a beautiful moment thinking of him.

No number of words can even come relatively close to sharing my gratitude to the Johnson Scholarship Foundation. I will be forever grateful for the support and experiences JSF has helped me achieve. Thank you!

Salish Kootenai College Alum Uses Education to Inspire Future Students

June 13, 2024/in News, Salish Kootenai College

This article was originally published in the Johnson Scholarship Foundation’s 2023 annual report about Salish Kootenai College, which partnered with the Foundation to create a scholarship endowment for Indigenous students pursuing business and entrepreneurship. Click here to read more content from the annual report.

Makenzi Skellenger (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) grew up on the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana. She always knew she wanted to attend college, but recognized it would be a challenge to finance that dream.

Skellenger began attending Salish Kootenai College (SKC) in 2017 to study business administration. Worried about taking on student loans, she did everything possible to independently fund her degree. In her first year, she held two jobs to make ends meet. She also had a long daily commute to work and classes.

During her sophomore year, Skellenger received the Johnson Scholarship. This lifted some of her financial burden so she could take on more meaningful work opportunities. She started as a work-study student at SKC and accepted every internship and opportunity that crossed her path.

“I don’t know if I would have been able to continue my education if it [weren’t] for the Johnson Scholarship Foundation,” Skellenger said. “They allowed me to focus on my academic career and find my passion at SKC. They are also helping support my MBA so that I can bring my knowledge back to my reservation.”

Makenzi Skellenger (wearing a red top) poses for a photo with fellow Gonzaga alumni and JSF staff after the university’s May 2024 commencement.

In 2021, the Johnson Scholar graduated with her bachelor’s degree. But Skellenger didn’t stop there. Along her journey, she discovered a passion for teaching. Recognizing the power of education, she wanted to continue her studies and become a faculty member at Salish Kootenai College—something she believes would not have been possible without JSF.

“I don’t know if I would have been able to continue my education if it [weren’t] for the Johnson Scholarship Foundation,” she said. “They allowed me to focus on my academic career and find my passion at SKC. They are also helping support my MBA so that I can bring my knowledge back to my reservation.”

Since 1992, JSF’s Entrepreneurship Scholarship program has provided scholarships to Indigenous students in business or entrepreneurship. This has supported over 200 students throughout their time at SKC. By covering tuition, fees, and other educational expenses, students can focus on academics, pursue opportunities such as paid internships, and attend events like the American Indigenous Business Leaders annual conference.

Skellenger continues to make her dreams a reality. She joined the SKC business education faculty in January 2023. She also became a Johnson Scholar at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, recently earning her MBA in American Indian Entrepreneurship—a program that JSF created with the university in 2001. She hopes to bring her learnings from Gonzaga to SKC to bridge the gap between tribal colleges and higher education, inspire others, and be the change.

Landmark College Student Excels in Education

May 24, 2024/in Landmark College, News

This article was originally published in the Johnson Scholarship Foundation’s 2023 annual report about Landmark College, a grantee partner of the foundation. Click here to read more content from the annual report.

Sam Mayo, a person with autism, had a significant speech impediment as a young boy. As he got older, school became more of a challenge. By junior high, he had been labeled a troublemaker.

“His communication skills made it difficult for people to understand him,” his mother Stephanie Mayo said. “He would zone out but then come back, and Sam didn’t want to raise his ideas or questions. One teacher thought he was an incredible kid, but everyone else came down on him. That was heartbreaking.”

Stephanie knew her son’s education was at stake, so she enrolled him in a homeschool resource center in their hometown of Lexington, South Carolina. When it was time to think about Sam’s future, Stephanie had to face a new challenge. She learned about Landmark College’s dual enrollment program from her sister, who taught science at the homeschool center.

In 2022, the Mayos visited Landmark College to learn about the online dual enrollment program, which JSF helps fund through a matching grant. Located in Putney, Vermont, the college provides highly accessible learning approaches to individuals who learn differently.

“I looked all over. Many schools had a department for kids who learn differently—but these kids don’t have a neon sign,” said Stephanie, explaining that not every student learns the same way. “As soon as we got on campus, I knew what Landmark was about. It was an easy decision.”

“He was excited and also a bit apprehensive about dual enrollment, college-level education,” she wrote in an email. “[Landmark went] out of their way to make him feel heard, accepted, and understood.”

Just two weeks after Sam started taking classes, his attitude toward schoolwork changed. That fall, Stephanie learned about the Johnson Scholarship.

“We knew the tuition cost—we were looking at the yearly tab thinking, ‘Oh, help!’” she recalled. “The scholarship covered nearly all of the costs, and gave Sam the opportunity to get to know Landmark’s style and prepare for an actual college experience.”

“As soon as we got on campus, I knew what Landmark was about. It was an easy decision.”

Sam is currently a freshman* at Landmark, where he says he’s glad to be near other students with autism. Sending a child to college is a big change for any parent. Still, Stephanie says she feels safe knowing her son is at Landmark.

“For the first time in his life, [Sam] is interested in his own education and pushing himself,” she said. “We are so proud of him, and I tell him that all the time.”

Sam Mayo was a freshman at the time this article was written.

Regalia of Resilience: PBA Grad Reflects on the Power of Education

May 23, 2024/in News, Palm Beach Atlantic University

This article was originally published by our grantee partner, Palm Beach Atlantic University. It is shared here with permission.

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) graduate and Fulbright recipient Niang Thang ‘24 knows a thing or two about the importance of education—though she didn’t always believe in it. Over the past seven years, she’s seen how higher education, mentorship, and the transformative power of belief can help someone move from feeling stuck to living out their dreams.

Niang Thang lives with her parents, who are immigrants from Myanmar, in West Palm Beach. During her early high school years, Thang struggled with her mental health and some academic challenges.

Thang’s parents went into panic mode, unsure of how to respond to their only child’s struggles. Their solution? Pray.

“They loved and cared for me; they wanted to do what was best,” she shared. “They turned to God—they said, ‘We don’t know what to do, so the only thing we can do is trust [Him] and His will.’”

Finding Academic Renewal at PBA

A couple of years later, Niang Thang was ready for something more.

“Something sparked in me,” she reflected. “I wanted to build a future for myself.”

She heard about PBA from her friend’s sister, who attended the university. Though Niang Thang was reluctant to apply, her friend encouraged her.

A month later, Thang received her acceptance letter.

Thang entered PBA as a freshman in fall 2020, while navigating college life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second-generation college student says her past experiences of learning how to manage her mental health helped her thrive during the pandemic.

Thang also credits her success to PBA’s supportive community. She was particularly moved by the genuine care that faculty and staff demonstrated—especially as she entered PBA with an undeclared major.

“When I was trying to choose, I met with my career mentor, Jennifer Fonseca,” she said. “She guided me and helped me figure out my major. She had a willingness to help me.”

After diligently researching and identifying programs that best mirrored her passions and goals, Thang chose to study psychology and pursue a chemistry minor. She was also accepted into the Frederick M. Supper Honors Program.

Now, she’s the Class of 2024 Outstanding Graduate of the psychology department.

“I came into PBA as one person, now I’m graduating as another,” Thang said. “PBA had a big role in transforming me. I started with nothing—but I felt like I had such potential and big dreams.”

Thang added that she could focus on her academic and career goals thanks to the scholarships she received, including the 2024 Women of Distinction Scholarship, which gives funds to female students who excel in academics, service, and leadership, and the Johnson Scholarship, which is distributed to PBA students with demonstrated financial need.

“They made it easier [for me] to go to school,” she said. “My peers are worried about how to pay for school, or they’re in debt. I don’t have to feel burdened because I don’t have to work and sacrifice my grades. The scholarships saved me and my parents from that financial burden. I am honored to have been chosen.”

In addition to easing the financial pressures, the scholarships enabled Thang to thrive in a full-time academic routine—which, in turn, helped spark conversations with her parents about her hopes and dreams.

“We started talking about my future and my passions,” she shared. “They were very open-minded. I would have thought that they wanted me to go into pre-med! But I was comfortable talking with them.”

Looking Ahead: Fulbright and Future Goal

This summer, Thang will embark on a year-long English teaching assistantship to Taiwan under the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Though she wasn’t initially planning to apply, a professor urged her to consider it, and she took a leap of faith. Guided by Dr. Carl Miller, associate professor of English and PBA faculty coordinator for the Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, Thang prepared her application last semester while also applying to graduate programs.

Last month, she learned that she received the Fulbright.

“Tears started flowing; I was in utter shock. I couldn’t believe it,” Thang said, adding that these moments remind her to believe in herself. “People would think I was a failure with no future—but there was something in me that said I knew better.”

After her teaching assistantship, Thang wants to continue her education and become a clinical psychologist.

“No matter what, I can do and achieve much more,” she reflected. “PBA is something special—I’ve never encountered people like this. These professors are investing in our lives, and their belief in me [reminded me] that I can thrive. I don’t think I would have done as well as I did if I attended another school.”

To learn more about PBA’s psychology and counseling programs, click here.

To watch PBA’s 2024 Commencement recap video, click here.

Palm Beach Atlantic University is a core grantee partner of JSF. At the bequest of its founders, the Foundation distributes $1.2 million to PBA each year. The funds provide scholarships to qualified students who wish to pursue higher education but cannot otherwise afford to do so.

Lisa Loomis Joins JSF as Executive Coordinator

May 6, 2024/in News

Julia Duresky/CAPEHART

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF) is pleased to welcome Lisa H. Loomis to its team of staff members.

Loomis joined the Johnson Scholarship Foundation in May 2024 and serves as the Executive Coordinator. In this role, she assists the CEO and serves as a key liaison between the CEO and the Foundation’s grantees and board.

Loomis previously worked at Palm Beach Atlantic University on the development team to secure funds for student scholarships through the highly respected Women of Distinction luncheon that honors local female philanthropists and annually awards scholarships to deserving female students at PBA. She also led the work of their Alumni Association Golf Tournament, which raised needed funds and distributed scholarships to over 40 students annually. She was the Executive Director of The Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation, where she administered all the development and administrative activities of the foundation.

Loomis has called West Palm Beach home since 1994, when she joined her husband in his hometown after they both graduated from Stetson University. She and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.

First-Gen FAU Graduate Uses Accounting to Pay it Forward

April 24, 2024/in Florida Atlantic University, News

Christopher Gonzalez (front row, third from left) with other Florida Atlantic University Johnson Scholars and JSF board members, staff and consultants, during a JSF site visit in March 2023.

First Generation Johnson Transfer Scholar and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) graduate Christopher Gonzalez believes helping others can make a big difference in someone’s life. After experiencing it firsthand, he was inspired to do the same for others.

Gonzalez grew up in Hialeah, Florida. His parents are Cuban immigrants, and every year during tax season, he joined his mom on outings to their CPA to file taxes.

“The [CPA] was so helpful,” he says. “She spoke fluent Spanish and would talk to us and show us how bills or [anything else] would affect the tax return. It always helped, because I feel like every dollar counted.”

For his family, education was always highly regarded.

“They knew that me getting an education would be very important—like typical parents, they wanted me to be a doctor,” he laughs. “They wanted me to do good in school, and growing up, [they] made sure I was completing my homework and doing well in classes.”

Those CPA meetings, combined with Gonzalez’s affinity for math and numbers, helped him decide what he wanted to do with his life.

“It always piqued my interest, and I felt like I could do this someday to help other families,” he says.

With a goal to pursue accounting, he started his higher education career at Palm Beach State College (PBSC)—partly because he loved Palm Beach County and partly because his father lived in West Palm Beach.

“I fell in love with the area, so I moved to West Palm Beach on my own and enrolled at PBSC,” he says.

After receiving his associate’s degree, he transferred to FAU in 2021 with a spot in the accounting scholars program. He was also accepted to the very first cohort of FAU’s Johnson Transfer Scholars Program, which aims to improve the retention, matriculation, graduation and career readiness of first-generation transfer students.

Gonzalez says the scholarship enabled him to worry less about finances and focus on his studies.

“The events I went to also got me out of my comfort zone,” he recalls. “At PBSC I would park, go to class, and then get back to my car and leave. I started to enjoy going to these events [at FAU] and hearing other people’s stories.”

He was even invited to attend lunch with the Johnson Scholarship Foundation in March 2023, where he was able to share his journey with JSF staff, board members, and consultants.

In addition to easing the financial burden, Gonzalez believes the scholarship program’s mentorship offerings contributed to his success.

When he first began at FAU, he was assigned a mentor, whom he met five times per semester to ensure he was on track with his goals. He also met with the career development team to review his résumé, go over job interview questions, and make sure he was prepared for future career opportunities.

“It was good to know I had someone to reach out to if I had any questions or concerns,” Gonzalez says. “FAU offers a lot of resources, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Knowing there was someone specifically assigned to help was great. It felt easy to ask for help—and if [my mentor] couldn’t help me, he would connect me with someone or share resources.”

Gonzalez graduated with his bachelor’s in accounting in December 2023. This August, he will begin a fellowship at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the Big Four accounting firms. While at PwC, he’ll be working toward his master’s through the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University.

When he thinks about his future, Gonzalez says he wants to help as many people as possible, especially families and single parents.

His advice to others who want to chase their dreams? Set a goal and keep moving forward.

“Never give up or fall into the pressures of what a normal college path looks like,” he advises. “It took me six years to get my associate’s. If you take one step forward, it’s still one step closer to where you’re meant to go.”