The American Indian College Fund has appointed two tribal college presidents and two private sector professionals to its governing board of trustees.
Dr. Monte Randall (Muscogee [Creek] from the Apekv-Tvlledegv Tribal Town and Deer Clan), President of the College of Muscogee Nation; Duane Bedell (Bay Mills Indian Community tribe), President of Bay Mill Community College; and Ashley Hubka, Senior Vice President of New Business Development, Walmart, will serve three years. Holly Lunsford, Vice President, Finance Foodservice and On-Premise, North American Operating Unit, Coca-Cola, is currently filling a vacancy on the board and will seek her first threeyear term next spring.
Dr. Monte Randall is the fifth President at the College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN). He has worked extensively at CMN as the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dean of Student Affairs, Tribal Services Instructor, and Research Specialist. While at CMN, Dr. Randall developed the federal financial aid policies, Office of Student Affairs, academic assessment plan, and contributed to CMN’s accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission.
Dr. Randall’s research interest focuses on Native American culture, problem-solving abilities, and leadership. His dissertation correlated the significance of cultural learning in overcoming the impacts of historical trauma of Native American students. He is an Aspen Institute and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow, a contributor to the Tribal College Journal, and a volunteer community leader with Glenpool Public Schools, the Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce, and the Muscogee Nation. Dr. Randall regularly presents topics relating to Native American education, culture, and leadership within the community.
A veteran of the United States Navy and the Oklahoma Army National Guard, Dr. Randall graduated from Haskell Indian Nations University, the University of Oklahoma, and Oral Roberts University, where he received a doctorate in educational leadership. He resides in Glenpool with his wife Lauren and three children.
The new trustees will replace three term-limited trustees, who will vacate their positions June 30, 2023. They include Dr. David Yarlott, President of Little Big Horn College and Lynn Dee Rapp, President of Eagle Opportunity, who both served three terms. This was also Dr. Yarlott’s second appointment to the board. Carla Sineway, President, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, served one three-year term. The College Fund wishes to thank them for their service.
