American Indian College Fund Announces Appointment of New Executive Director

American Indian College Fund
Monday, 15 September 1997

DENVER (September 15, 1997) - The Board of Trustees of the American Indian College Fund is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard "Rick" Williams as Executive Director, October 1, 1997.

Mr. Williams, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, is the former Director of the Student Academic Services Center and the American Indian Upward Bound Program at the University of Colorado. He received his M. A. in Education Administration (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Wyoming. Mr. Williams has also been active in Colorado and throughout the United States as an educational and historical consultant for AT&T, Martin Marieta, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration and the Denver Art Museum. He is also an active member of the faculty at the University of Denver's graduate program in American Indian studies.

"Mr. Williams' nationally recognized and highly respected work as an educator, consultant and leader in minority education programs as well as his commitment to excellence is exactly what the College Fund has been looking for in its leadership," according to David Gipp, Chairman of the Fund's Board of Trustees and President of United Tribes Technical College.

"Equally important is his vast knowledge of American Indian history and contemporary issues. As the Fund's executive director, Mr. Williams will be responsible for communicating the wide range of issues facing tribal nations and the work the tribal colleges are doing to address these concerns," Gipp added.

According to Barbara Bratone, the Fund's founding and interim director and Director of Resource Development, Mr. Williams was chosen from a nation-wide search that attracted the top candidates throughout Indian country and the non-profit spectrum.

"Rick brings to the College Fund a unique perspective that combines tribal culture, education, leadership and vision. Each of these values are vital as the Fund continues in its mission -- to raise scholarship support for tribal college students, increase our public awareness efforts, and build long-term financial stability for the colleges through endowments and other fund-raising activities," Bratone added. "We are lucky to have found Rick and are honored to be a part of his team to reach these goals."

The American Indian College Fund was launched in 1989 by the presidents of the tribal colleges to ensure that scholarships for American Indian students and resources to ensure the educational opportunities continued to grow. By providing public education and awareness about the work of the tribal colleges and enlisting the support of corporations, foundations and individuals the American Indian College Fund distributed close to $2 million to over 4,000 students attending member colleges in 1996.

For more information, or to contact American Indian College Fund, see their website at: www.collegefund.org