American Indian Graduate Center announces new board president

Tuesday, May 30, 2017  

Holly Cook Macarro, a citizen of the Red Lake Nation, has been elected president of the board for the American Indian Graduate Center.

Cook Macarro first joined AIGC's board in July 2015. She will be guiding the organization as it celebrates a milestone in providing scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native students across the nation.

“It’s an exciting time for AIGC. We have a nearly 50-year legacy of providing higher education scholarships and services to Indian students to build upon,” Cook Macarro said in a press release on Tuesday. “As we move toward this important anniversary milestone, our mission is to continue to encourage Native students to pursue higher education and to be ready with scholarships that meet their needs.”

AIGC has seen a number of changes in recent months. Aurene Martin, a citizen of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, who works with Cook Macarro at the largest Indian-owned lobbying firm, has just joined the board.

Earlier this year, Ernie Stevens Jr., a citizen of the Oneida Nation, joined the board. And in February, Angelique Albert, a citizen of the citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, was selected as AIGC's new executive director.

Cook Macarro succeeds Rose Graham, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, as president. Graham has stepped down from the organization.

Rounding out the board's officers are Vice President Joel Frank (Seminole Tribe) and Secretary-Treasurer Steve Stallings (Rincon Band). Continuing board members are Stacy Leeds (Cherokee Nation), Danna Jackson (Salish and Kootenai Tribes), Walter Lamar (Blackfeet Nation, Wichita Tribe) and Dana Arviso (Navajo Nation).