Staff & Board

Foundation Staff

Andi Weber, Executive Director

Andi Weber is an enrolled member of the Mã’eekaneewak, Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin, and a descendant of the Omaeqnomenewak, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.

In May 2017 Andi earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Haskell Indian Nations University in Indigenous and American Indian Studies with an emphasis in Sovereignty magna cum laude. In May 2019 she also earned her Masters of Public Administration from the Edwin O. Stene program at the University of Kansas—one of the oldest and most respected programs in the United States in educating city managers.

Prior to her work commencing at the Haskell Foundation, Andi has held positions that focused on resilient city planning, strategic planning, project management, affordable housing and economic & community development projects for various Tribes across Indian Country.

In her free time, you can catch her spending time with her partner and boys at home, hanging out with friends, traveling, being a foodie, or speaking about Indigenous excellence!

As a passionate Haskell Alumna, she is committed to higher learning and TCUs. She looks forwarding to reigniting initiatives that support Haskell Indian Nations University and branching out on new endeavors to further support staff, faculty and students for generations to come.

Oneewē!

#OnwardHaskell

Foundation Board

Ruth Vega Harjo, Secretary-Board of Directors

Ruth Vega Harjo has spent 15 years working in the American Indian gaming industry. She currently serves as director of human resources for the Prairie Band Casino and Resort. During her time there, she has also worked as a career development manager, marketing manager, and planning and analysis manager.

Her tribal affiliation is Prairie Band Potawatomi and she served as the tribe’s gaming commissioner from 2000 to 2003. Harjo earned an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Haskell Indian Junior College and a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Washburn University. She also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Baker University.

She has served on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Charitable Contributions Committee and the Prairie Band Casino and Resort Charitable Contributions Committee. Harjo is married and has three children.

Patricia Battese, Treasurer-Board of Directors

Patricia “Patty” Battese is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and has spent a 20-year career in federal government service with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health, primarily in administrative and accounting roles.

Before joining the federal government, she spent more than 20 years as an administrative and office manager for firms such as Phillips Petroleum in Oklahoma, and Mize Houser Public Accounts in Kansas.

Battese studied at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and has served on the board of directors of the Lawrence Indian Center. She also served on Johnson O’Malley Parent Committees for school districts in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Mitchell, South Dakota, and Salt Lake City, Utah. She spends some of her free time visiting Native American casinos, resorts, trading posts, and reservations.

Jerry Tuckwin, Executive-Board of Directors

Former long-time athletics coach at Haskell Indian Nations University, Jerry Tuckwin has been greatly involved in the Haskell Foundation. He initiated a major rejuvenation of the Foundation in the Fall of 2012. After his formal retirement in 2001, Tuckwin has been active with his tribal nation, the Prairie Band Potawatomi. He served the tribe as the Chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Entertainment Corporation Board for six years. Jerry coordinated the Casino Management Program within the School of Business at Haskell in 2002 and served as an adjunct faculty member until 2016.

Jerry Tuckwin is a 1960 Haskell Institute graduate. He received a Track and Field Scholarship to Wichita State University and received his bachelor’s degree in May of 1964. He is a Vietnam veteran and received his master’s degree in Administration at the University of Arizona while stationed in Tucson in 1964.

Jerry had two children who graduated from Haskell Indian Junior College. His current grandchildren are the 5th generation of Tuckwin’s who have attended Haskell. Jerry’s grandfather was one of the first students on the campus in the Fall of 1884. Coach Tuckwin is very proud of his affiliation with his alma mater.

Lara Waits, Vice President-Board of Directors

Board member Lara Waits is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and has a decade of experience in a variety of roles serving the casino industry. She has worked in a number of positions with the Prairie Band Casino and Resort operated in Mayetta, Kansas. Her roles there have included Players Club supervisor, lead front desk clerk, casino marketing administrator, human resources assistant in employee relations, and summer intern in marketing and human resources.She currently serves in the role of tribal development program coordinator at the casino and resort. Waits holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Haskell Indian Nations University. She is also enrolled in an MBA program at Friends University in Wichita.

Andrew Heinrich, Board of Directors

Andrew Heinrich learned of the Haskell Foundation through HINU students when he began working with young Native Americans as a professional philanthropic project. He currently serves as the Founder and President of Project Rousseau and the Rousseau Foundation, a non-profit that helps young people from communities in the highest need reach their full potential and pursue higher education through education, social services, and other programming grants. Heinrich has previously served as a faculty member for the Yale School of Public Health where he taught, conducted research, and designed curriculum, and he received his education from Columbia University, Oxford University, and Harvard Law School. Here, Heinrich earned his BA, MPhil, and JD and played as a Quarterback for Columbia Varsity Football. Today, Heinrich has active involvement in HIAS, PARC Adventures Monaco, the Junior Board of City Harvest, and the Columbia College Fund Development Council of Columbia University, and he enjoys playing sports in his spare time.

Bo Schneider, Board Member

Bo Schneider is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine tribe and a recognized descendent of the Winnebago and Kickapoo tribes. He currently serves as Property Manager for Peak Campus Management dba CP Cincy Apartments. His ties to Haskell Indian Nations University are quite deep – his mother and father, as well as his uncle and aunt, attended HINU in the 70s and 80s. Both Schneider’s father and uncle played basketball HINU, during which it was a Junior College, and he followed in their footsteps by playing basketball for the HINU team from 2010-2014. Schneider earned his B.S. in Business Administration from HINU in May 2014 and his MBA in Business Management from Baker University in May 2019. In his free time, Schneider enjoys playing basketball, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and empowering new and returning HINU students and student athletes.

Billy Keene, Board Member

Billy Keene is enrolled member and descendent of the Osage tribe; he currently serves the Osage Nation professionally.

Much of Keene’s career and involvement is closely tied to his heritage. Early in his career, he interned at Pipstem Law, collaborating with lawyers regarding land issues and writing briefs concerning Osage Tribal law matters. In addition, Keene has served as a Researcher at OU Medical Center, during which he collaborated with tribes to discover models for tribal wellness programs.

Keene earned his B.S. in Business Management from HINU in May 2011 and his Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City School of Law in May 2017, making him an Indian law certificate holder. In his free time, Keene enjoys staying actively involved in the Osage and HINU community.