Governing Board
Della Spotted Tail
CHAIRWOMAN
Della is originally from the Parmelee community and is a citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She holds a business management degree from Sinte Gleska University with minors in legal studies and accounting. She has worked for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe for sixteen years in a number of capacities including headstart, K-12, university, and Tribal education administration. She currently serves as the Tribe’s higher education coordinator. She is a direct descendant of Chief Spotted Tail, and one of his aspirations was education for his people. With her work, she hopes to honor him and improve educational outcomes for her people.
Dr. Rich Braunstein
Treasurer
Dr. Rich Braunstein is a professor at the University of South Dakota. He is the coordinator of the Nonprofit Studies Program and serves as a research associate for the Government Research Bureau. His teaching interests include race and justice, conflict resolution, nonprofit administration, and political development. In addition to his work at the University, Dr. Braunstein is the Principal Investigator for the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board’s Connecting With Our Youth program (CWOY) and serves as outreach director for the Journey On Street Outreach Team funded by US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Rapid City.
Dylan Young
SECRETARY
Dylan is originally from the Parmelee community and is a citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. He is currently a senior, honors student, and dual Political Science and English major at the University of Minnesota, Morris. At Morris, Dylan has served as a highly active leader and advocate for fellow Native American and first-generation college students. He currently serves as the President of the student body. After graduation, Dylan intends on pursuing a dual master’s degree in public policy and higher education to continue challenging the racial and income inequalities in higher education and academia.
Our Staff
Troy Blake
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER
Troy is originally from Vancouver, Washington and was brought to Rosebud in 2018 through the program Teach For America, serving as a math teacher at Todd County High School for two years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Vanderbilt University. Prior to moving to Rosebud, he led a personal finance tutoring organization that served two high schools in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. His motivation to co-found a scholarship fund came from the passion, authenticity, and drive he saw in his students everyday. Troy feels that if the Fund’s mission is accomplished, his students will receive all they deserve in life and more.