National Indian Health Board terminates chief executive officer

Indianz.Com > News > National Indian Health Board terminates chief executive officer

Stacy Bohlen, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Indian Health Board, speaks during NIHB’s National Tribal Health Conference in Washington, D.C., on September 28, 2022. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Friday, August 23, 2024

By Acee Agoyo

Indianz.Com

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) has parted ways with its top executive, having “lost faith” in Stacy Bohlen, who had worked for the inter-tribal organization for more than 20 years.

In a statement on Wednesday, the organization said Bohlen was terminated “effective immediately.” No details were given about the decision.

“My fellow directors and I are deeply invested in the success of NIHB — for our Tribes and for our People,” William “Bill” Smith, the vice president and chief of the Valdez Native Tribe, said in the August 21 statement.

According to the statement, the NIHB board took action on Bohlen on August 20. A day prior, Indianz.Com reported that Bohlen had been placed on leave only a week prior, following unspecified allegations against her.

National Indian Health Board places top executive on leave amid investigation

The top executive at the largest tribal health organization in the U.S. has been placed on leave following unspecified allegations.

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Smith, who serves as chairman of the NIHB board of directors, previously said the organization had hired an outside law firm to look into the allegations. But no update was given about the third-party investigation, leaving some tribal advocates in the nation’s capital wondering why the decision to terminate Bohlen was seemingly made so quickly.

“It takes awhile to find the firm and hire them,” one observer who has worked closely with NIHB in the past told Indianz.Com. The person speculated that NIHB might have already been looking into Bohlen before word of her status began circulating in Washington, D.C., last week.

Bohlen, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, declined to comment when contacted by Indianz.Com over social media.

National Indian Health Board Director of Federal Relations Anthony “A.C.” Locklear, standing on far right at podium, is seen during NIHB’s National Tribal Health Conference in Washington, D.C., on September 28, 2022. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

In confirming that Bohlen had been placed on leave last week, Smith said Anthony “A.C.” Locklear, a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe, would serve as “acting” CEO of NIHB. The new statement refers to him as “interim” CEO.

“We know that our staff loves this mission, and we will continue to work with A.C. to strengthen our organization and move forward,” said Smith.

Locklear has been serving as NIHB’s first-ever Director of Federal Relations since August 2022. He updated one of his social media profiles with his “interim” title amid the staff shakeup.

Bohlen was initially hired as executive director of NIHB before the title was changed to its current one of CEO. She delivered a keynote on behalf of the organization on the first day of the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference in July.

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Chief Smith’s full statement about Bohlen follows:

Dear Tribal Leaders, Member Organizations, Partners, and Indian Country:

The National Indian Health Board of Directors met on August 20, 2024, and made the decision to terminate the CEO, Stacy Bohlen, effective immediately.

The Board has lost faith in Bohlen’s ability to lead the organization and named A.C. Locklear, Lumbee, Interim CEO. The Board is continuing to review the organization’s policies and procedures to ensure the vital work for Indian Country continues without further disruption.

“My fellow directors and I are deeply invested in the success of NIHB—for our Tribes and for our People,” said William “Chief Bill” Smith, NIHB Chairman and Valdez Native. “We know that our staff loves this mission, and we will continue to work with A.C. to strengthen our organization and move forward.”

If you have questions about this matter, please email nihbcommunications@nihb.org. To contact A.C. Locklear, please email ceo@nihb.org.