About the Center

 

History of the AIC

Early in the 1990s, a number of campus community members became concerned about meeting the unique needs of the American Indian students attending St. Cloud State University. Indian programming had become a component of the Minority Student Programs. After much study and conferring, and through the efforts of an advisory committee, an American Indian Center was established in 1993. Educational, social, and cultural programming specific to American Indian students began. Outreach activities for both Indian and non-Indian communities also were developed. The number and quality of programs continues to grow and are now carried on throughout the year.

Staff

Jim Knutson-Kolodzne (Ottawa), Director (320) 308-5447

Jim is responsible for the direction and management of the AIC. Together with the AIC staff, in addition to providing programs and services, they work on initiatives to increase recruitment, retention, and the development of new methods of access and success for American Indian students. Jim is completing his doctoral degree from NOVA Southeastern in Higher Education Leadership. He is an enrolled member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Manistee, MI.

Email Jim Knutson-Kolodzne

Associate Director

This position is currently open to all qualified applicants. Interested applicants should go to this link for more information: Associate Director Listing

 

Sharon Fineday (Fort Peck Sioux), Interim Student Services Coordinator(320) 308-4706

Sharon L. Fineday is an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of Montana and a descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa Indians from Michigan. Fineday is completing her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from North Dakota State University. She was employed at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota as the Director of American Indian Recruiting and Programming for three years.  Prior to that, she served as the Academic Counselor at Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates, North Dakota on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Fineday enjoys spending time with her family and traveling to contest powwows throughout the United States and Canada competing in the jingle dress dance category.

Email Sharon L. Fineday

Theresa Holubar, Office Manager (320) 308-4065

Theresa has served as an information and administrative resource for the American Indian Center since 2005. She completed the Grant Development class in Spring 2006; 40-hour Mediation Training during the summer of 2006; and several workshops on supervising, designing publications, and grant writing. Theresa has worked with the All Tribes Council in organizing the annual pow wow at SCSU since 2002, and really enjoys seeing it grow each year.

Email Theresa Holubar

Jeff House, Graduate Assistant (320) 308-5448

Jeff House is the Graduate Assistant for the American Indian Center and an MBA student. He graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a B.A. in Entrepreneurship and Marketing Management. He is a descendant of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe.

Email Jeff House

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