Sarah EchoHawk

Nawah (this means "hello" in the Pawnee language). I am Sarah EchoHawk, a citizen of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, and I've dedicated more than 25 years to advancing Indigenous people and communities in the United States through strategic leadership in the nonprofit sector, education, economic development, and philanthropy.

As President of AISES since 2013, I lead the premier organization dedicated to advancing Indigenous people in STEM fields. My work sits at the intersection of economic development, education policy, philanthropy, and workforce development—areas where I've developed deep expertise throughout my career. In this role, I've built strategic partnerships with multiple federal agencies and corporations across all sectors—particularly in aerospace, technology, and natural resources—who recognize AISES as the key connection to Native STEM talent. This has given me unique experience in talent acquisition and workforce development, serving as a bridge between Indigenous students and professionals and organizations seeking to diversify their teams.

I have extensive knowledge of the national Native nonprofit landscape, having held senior leadership positions across multiple mission-driven organizations serving U.S. Indigenous communities. As Executive Vice President at First Nations Development Institute—a national leader in Indigenous economic development—and interim CEO of its subsidiary, First Nations Oweesta Corporation (a CDFI) for six months during its management transition, I gained invaluable insight into community-based finance and development strategies. Earlier in my career, I spent several years at the American Indian College Fund working in operations, program management, communications, foundation relations, and individual giving, which deepened my expertise in both higher education and philanthropic partnerships.

This philanthropic expertise extends to my board service and advisory work. I currently serve on the boards of the American Indian Policy Institute, Last Mile Education Fund, National Girls Collaborative, Native Ways Federation, Digital Promise, Colorado Health Foundation, and PFLAG. I've also served as PI or Co-PI on multiple National Science Foundation grants. Previously, I served as vice chairperson for Native Americans in Philanthropy and chairperson for Red Feather Development Group, giving me a comprehensive view of how philanthropy intersects with Native communities.

Beyond my organizational leadership, an intense interest in federal Indian law and policy has also been central to my work throughout my career. This interest was shaped early on, as my father, John Echohawk, co-founded the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) in 1970, an organization he still leads today. My interest in Federal Indian Law led me to attend the University of Colorado Law School for one year before ultimately deciding to pursue a Master of Nonprofit Management degree and work in the national nonprofit sector on behalf of Indigenous people rather than practice law. Federal Indian Law, however, remains one of my key areas of interest and focus even today.

My dedication to Indigenous people also found its way into the classroom. Over nine years as an adjunct professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, I taught undergraduate students in Native American Politics and Introduction to Native American Studies. I even had the unique opportunity to co-teach Federal Indian Law courses alongside my father during this time. This experience deepened my expertise not only in the subject matter but also in course design and pedagogy. Working with undergraduate students taught me how to make complex legal and political concepts accessible and engaging, skills that have made me a more effective presenter and communicator throughout my career.

I am a contributing writer to Invisible No More: Voices from Native America (Island Press, 2023), a collection originally published in Nonprofit Quarterly, and a contributing author to Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech (NASEM, 2022). During the Obama administration, I served as an Ambassador for the U.S. Department of Energy's Minorities in Energy Initiative.

I have a Master of Nonprofit Management degree from Regis University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Native American Studies from Metro State University of Denver, with additional graduate coursework in applied communications at the University of Denver. I am also currently enrolled in the Executive Leadership Certificate program at Cornell University.