Jeanine Gordon
cawíitxpuu

Enrolled Tribal member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Cayuse, Walla Walla, Nez Perce, Chippewa, Cree.

Descendent of Old Chief Joseph (hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, Thunder Rolling Down the Mountains) and Chief Peo Peo Mox Mox (Yellow Bird).

Descendent of Frenchtown métis families of the Frenchtown settlement near Walla Walla, WA (Suzanne Cayouse/Dauphin (Duffy), A.P. Woodward, LaRoque, Bonenfant (Bonifer), Pambrun, and Wilson families).

Tribal/Indigenous Lands where you are located: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation: Cayuse (Weyíiletpuu), Umatilla (Imatalamłáma), and Walla Walla (Walúulapam)

Whitman College, Special Assistant to the President for Native American Outreach (titóqanim wapáyatat)

As Public Transit Program Manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), I took the lead in managing completion of the construction of the Public Transit Facility, the grand opening of the Public Transit Facility, and completing the groundwork of fully staffing the program, and making it an operational program within the Tribal Planning Office. While in this role, I testified at local hearings and Oregon State Capital hearings in support of HB-2017, a state-wide transportation improvement fund to help further a vibrant economy with good jobs, choices in transportation, a healthy environment, and safe communities.

As an employee of the CTUIR, I worked in the Tribal Water Resources Program as Administrative Manager, in the Administration Office for the Office of the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees as Executive Assistant, and in the Tribal Planning Office as Interim Director and Public Transit Program Manager. CTUIR Committees, Commissions, and Boards I served on include the Credit Board, the Law and Order Committee, the Tribal Water Commission, and the Election Commission.

As appointee to this inaugural role at Whitman College, I work to deepen the efforts of Native American outreach, admissions, recruitment, retention, financial aid, academic advising, and internships and I work to strengthen the relationship between the CTUIR and Whitman College. I report directly to the President of Whitman College. In this role, I ensure that the objectives in the MOA between the CTUIR and Whitman College are being accomplished, I lead the Whitman College Advisory Council for CTUIR Collaboration, I lead the Home in Pasxapa presentation and student tour during New Student Orientation, I lead the annual MMIW event the annual Pasxapa Powwow among other exciting events and programs for outreach, retention, and support.

Outside of work, I volunteer in the annual Happy Canyon Pageant, the oldest historical night show in the nation. I serve as Board of Directors Secretary for the Frenchtown Historical Foundation, and serve on the Walla Walla Valley-Washington Rural Tourism Support Program Steering Committee. I live with my husband in Touchet, WA. I travel to the CTUIR (Umatilla Indian Reservation) as often as I can to participate in community events and attend services at the Longhouse. I am mother to two amazing and intelligent children and enjoy life with several Labrador Retrievers. I am sister to nine amazing and loving siblings and relative to more aunties, uncles, and cousins than I can name in this brief bio. I honor my parents, grandparents, and ancestors who have left this world and gone on their journeys before us.

I am participating in the COS advisory committee because I want to see growth in the area of Tribal outreach, support, programming and professional networking in higher education institutions across the nation and in particular in the West, where our higher education institutions can connect and network with other institutions in this important work by collaborating and building strong relationships among ourselves and with our Tribal nations.