Native Forward Announces New Board Members

The appointees bring decades of expertise supporting nonprofits and community organizations to expand the impact of Native Forward Scholars Fund. 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Native Forward Scholars Fund, the largest direct provider of scholarships to Native students, announced today the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors, as well as four leadership appointments among its existing Board Members. 

The new Board Members bring decades of experience supporting nonprofits, corporations, and community organizations: 

• Rohit Menezes, Partner in Bridgespan's San Francisco office, with more than 15 years of experience as an advisor to a wide range of nonprofits/NGOs and foundations in the United States and India
• Katherine Carlton (Chugach), Member of Chugach's executive leadership team, overseeing Chugach's community and regional development, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) lands, and cultural resources; and President of Chugach Regional Development, and Chugach Tribal Services
• Ben Notti (Athabascan), Senior Associate at Pt Capital, a private equity firm in Alaska

Menezes, Carlton and Notti join the existing Board of Directors in their mission to improve higher education outcomes for Native students. 

In addition, four current Board Members are serving in the following leadership roles:

• Lillian Sparks Robinson (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), former Commissioner for the Administration for Native Americans and Executive Director of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA), has been named Chair
• Franklin "Hud" Oberly, Jr.  (Comanche, Osage & Caddo), Founder and Creative Director of Here's To You, has been named Vice Chair
• Cecilia Gutierrez, Managing Director, Portfolio Lead at Blue Meridian Partners will continue to serve as Treasurer
• Amber Garrison (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Global Brand President of Origins, will continue to serve as Secretary

"I'm thrilled to welcome Rohit, Katherine, and Ben to our board," said Angelique Albert (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes), CEO of Native Forward. "They both bring incredible experience working with nonprofits and community organizations, as well as a commitment to supporting Native-led organizations. I'm confident their expertise will help us amplify our impact in supporting Native students pursuing higher education."

"I'm excited to contribute to Native Forward's work to expand access to quality higher education for all Native students. I look forward to working with the Board and Native Forward staff team to support this important mission," said Rohit Menezes.

"As a Chugach shareholder, I'm honored to join the Board. Native Forward is a trailblazer in empowering the next generation of Native leaders, and I'm eager to bring my expertise to support this important mission," said Katherine Carlton. 

"Native Forward is an innovator, breaking down systemic barriers to higher education for Native students. I'm excited to advise the organization as a Board Member," said Ben Notti.

About Native Forward:

Native Forward Scholars Fund is the largest direct provider of scholarships to Native students for greater economic mobility, self-determination, and Tribal sovereignty for scholars and Tribal communities. The organization is committed to ensuring that every Native student who wants to pursue higher education has the resources to do so. Over 55 years, it has empowered over 22,000 scholars from more than 500 Tribes in all 50 states and contributed to over 1,700 law degrees and more than 2,200 PhD degrees. By pairing scholarships with meaningful, culturally relevant student support and programming, Native Forward has succeeded in increasing the graduation rates of undergraduate students to 69%, compared to the national average of 41% for Native students, and has boosted the rate for graduate students to 95%.

Contact: Josefin Dolsten
[email protected]

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SOURCE Native Forward Scholars Fund