Benny Shendo Jr., Photo Credit:
Benny Shendo, Jr听has joined CU as its first-ever Associate Vice Chancellor for Native American Affairs.听Benny听is a member of the Jemez Pueblo Tribe. He was elected Chairman of the Board of First Nations Development Institute in June 2016 after serving many years as a Board member.听Over the years, he has served in various capacities of management and leadership in business, tribal, university, and state government.听Previously, Benny was a project director for the Native Community Foundation for New Mexico; a New Mexico Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Indian Affairs; 1st and 2nd Lieutenant Governor, Pueblo of Jemez; and Assistant Dean of students at Stanford University. Benny was selected as a Fellow by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation鈥檚 National Leadership Program from 1997-2000.听In 2004, he received the听Mary G. Ross Award听from the Council of Energy Resource Tribes for professional achievements. In 2007, Benny received the听First American Public Advocate Award听in recognition of Outstanding Leadership and Contributions made to American Indian economic and business development by The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.听 He started the first charter school in Jemez Pueblo (K-8) in 1999.听
He reports directly to the Chancellor, so this is the most influential and powerful Native-American-oriented position ever at CU-Boulder. CNAIS Director Andrew Cowell chaired the search committee, and CNAIS Faculty Board members Kristen Carpenter and Clint Carroll also served on the committee.
Benny will also be the keynote speaker at our 2024 Native Graduation. Learn more here.
