Tahlequah university names Leeds as Sequoyah Fellow

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) — The first woman and youngest person to serve as a justice on the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court has been selected by Northeastern State University as the school’s third Sequoyah Fellow.

The Tahlequah-based school announced the honor Tuesday for Arkansas School of Law dean and professor Stacy Leeds.

A Muskogee native, Leeds began her teaching career as the University of Wisconsin as a William H. Hastie Fellow, then went on to serve as director of the Northern Plains Indian Law Center at the University of North Dakota School of Law.

She’s also held positions at the University of Kansas School of Law.

Leeds is a Cherokee citizen and currently serves as the chairwoman of the Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission.