Brooke Gondara facts for kids

Brookney Beaverheart Claire Boston Gondara (Northern Cheyenne) is an American leader in education. She works to help women and minority groups succeed in college. Currently, she is an associate dean at Santa Fe Community College. Before this, Gondara was the president of Iḷisaġvik College in Alaska from 2010 to 2011. This college is special because it is the only tribal college in Alaska.

In 2005, she made history. She became the first Northern Cheyenne woman to earn a PhD. A PhD is a very high university degree. She earned hers in education from Oregon State University. From 2000 to 2003, she was the dean of student affairs at Chief Dull Knife College.

Her Journey to Education

Brookney Claire Boston was born to Tana Streeter and Monte Boston. Her mother was from Billings, Montana, and her father from Anchorage, Alaska. She is a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe.

She left high school before finishing. Later, in 1990, she earned her GED in Montana. A GED shows you have the same knowledge as a high school graduate. At that time, she was a single mother. She realized she needed more education to support her daughter and find a stable job.

So, she went to college. In 1995, she earned a bachelor's degree from Montana State University Billings. She studied sociology and Native American studies. Her tribe helped her pay for college. The next year, in 1996, she earned a master's degree from the same university. She studied how to create lessons and teach them. In January 1997, Brookney Boston married Robbie Gondara in Billings, Montana.

Her Work in Education

After getting her master's degree, Brookney Gondara taught sociology. She also worked at the Western Heritage Center. This is a museum in Billings, where she directed educational programs.

From 2000 to 2003, she worked at Chief Dull Knife College. This college is on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. She was the dean of student affairs. This meant she helped students with their college life. At that time, she was the only Native American woman in a leadership role there. She faced some challenges at the college in 2003. Some students even held a protest to support her.

In 2005, Gondara achieved another major milestone. She became the first Northern Cheyenne woman to earn a doctoral degree. She got her PhD in Education from Oregon State University. Her studies focused on how Northern Cheyenne women experience education. Her main project was about listening to the educational stories of Northern Cheyenne women. She also studied college leadership at Harvard University.

Leading Colleges

Around 2004, Gondara became a dean at Portland Community College (PCC). She helped create new programs and advised students. In 2010, she was chosen to be the president of Iḷisaġvik College in Alaska. She served there until 2011. After that, she moved to New Mexico. She became an associate dean at Santa Fe Community College. There, she helps with programs in trades, technology, business, and education.

Standing Up for Others

Brookney Gondara is also an activist. This means she works to bring about change. She supports equal rights for all people. In 2005, she took part in a counter-protest. This was to support a play called The Laramie Project at Southridge High School.

Awards and Recognition

In 2006, the alumni group at Montana State University at Billings gave Gondara an award. It was for her 'exceptional contribution'.

Her Life Today

Brookney Gondara has two daughters. In 2005, she lived in Beaverton, Oregon. Now, she lives in Santa Fe.

See also

• List of women presidents or chancellors of co-ed colleges and universities