Meet the AIGC Board Rhonda Whiting (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) Rhonda Whiting is the mother of three daughters and grandmother of two grandchildren, Isaiah and Adrianna. Rhonda has received three degrees from the University of Montana: a BA in Elementary Education, Masters of Education with a focus on reading and a Juris Doctorate. She has taught kindergarten, middle school, high school and at the university level, and has served as Legal Counsel for her Tribe. She was the first Native American political Director for the Rhonda Whiting Democratic National Committee, and coordinated the Indian Vote nationally for the Clinton/Gore ticket in 1996. Rhonda owned and operated WANZI, an Indian women’s consulting firm, for fourteen years. WANZI undertook a variety of projects, including strategic political planning on issues focused on Native Americans. Achievements of the firm included a National Legislative Education Project on the Indian Child Welfare Act and a welfare reform study applied to Tribes; more specifically, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe. Rhonda has worked nationally in economic development and was appointed to serve as Assistant Administrator/National Coordinator of National Native American Affairs for the US Small Business Administration. Rhonda is currently the Vice President of a Tribal Corporation, Salish and Kootenai Technologies, Inc. The company reaches out globally and specializes in Information Technology. Rhonda is the President of the Board of Directors for the American Indian Graduate Center. Her e-mail address is: wanzi@aol.com.
Ada Pecos Melton (Jemez) Ada Pecos Melton, a past AIGC fellow, brings a distinguished record of accomplishment and experience to the AIGC board. She has received numerous awards for public service and is widely recognized for her work in the field of juvenile justice. Ada holds baccalaureate and master’s degrees from the University of New Mexico in Criminal Justice and Public Administration respectively. In 1991 she was a Fellow under the Asia Foundation Ada Pecos Melton
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The American Indian Graduate
and studied indigenous justice systems in five South Pacific Islands. Currently, she is President of the American Indian Development Associates (AIDA), a technical assistance, training, and research firm. AIDA specializes in public policy development as well as research in indigenous methods of conflict resolution. This work addresses crime, delinquency, violence and victimization issues throughout Indian Country. Ada’s e-mail address is: aidainc@flash.net.
Steven L. A. Stallings (Rincon Luiseno Band of Mission Indians) Steve Stallings has extensive experience in banking and financial services. As Senior Vice President & Director of Native American Banking for Wells Fargo, he delivers such services to Native American communities throughout the 23-state territory of Wells Fargo. Steve is wellversed in business assistance programs that support Indian owned enterprises. He serves on Atlatl, a national Native arts organization in Phoenix and is a Director of the Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation Enterprises Board. Steven L. A. Stallings He and his wife Peggy (Navajo) reside in Chandler, AZ, with daughters Stefanie and Celena. He is a business school graduate of Cal State Long Beach and the University of Southern California. His e-mail address is: stallis@wellsfargo.com.
Shenan R. Atcitty (Diné) Shenan is Senior Counsel with the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP in Washington, D. C. Her law practice focuses on representing Indian tribal governments before Congress and Federal agencies. For over ten years she has represented or worked with tribal governments in litigation, business, economic development, gaming, housing, health care, education, taxation, infrastructure development, and Congressional lobbying. Prior to entering private practice she served as a law clerk and contract attorney for the United State’s Attorney’s Office in New Mexico. She is a member of the D.C. and New Mexico bars. She is licensed to practice law in New Mexico and before Shenan Atcitty the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, the Court of Federal Claims, The Court of Appeals for D.C., and the