Albuquerque, NM – The American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving cultural and economic wellbeing for individuals and tribes through graduate education, congratulates its Director for Graduate Fellowships and Special Programs, Melvin Monette, who was elected President of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA).

Melvin Monette is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Dakota.  Melvin will perform dual roles in Native education – maintaining his Director for Graduate Fellowships and Special Programs position at AIGC and serving as President of NIEA.
 
“We congratulate Melvin on this tremendous opportunity to further the American Indian graduate education agenda through NIEA,” said AIGC Director Sam Deloria. “As a leader in both AIGC and NIEA, Melvin brings great perspective and influence to advancing educational opportunities for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students across the country.”  

With his extensive involvement in American Indian education, Monette is well suited for the dual role. Monette previously served as Parliamentarian and President-Elect on the Board of Directors for NIEA and remains a member of the College Professionals International. He was a founding member of the National Coalition for the Advancement of Natives in Higher Education and also served as an Ambassador of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program.

Monette became President of NIEA recently at NIEA Annual Convention in Alaska. He has been the Director for Graduate Fellowships and Special Programs with AIGC since 2010 and has contributed to the efforts of AIGC in giving out more than 16,600 scholarships – in its lifetime of 45 years – to American Indians and Alaska Natives.