Alaska Federation of Natives Elects Benjamin Mallott as President
Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), which stands as the largest Indigenous organization in a state that houses almost half of the country’s federally recognized tribes, has recently chosen a new president. Benjamin Mallott, a 38-year-old individual with a familial background linked to former Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, will assume the presidency come August. Mallott boasts over a decade of experience within AFN and presently serves as the Vice President of External Affairs within the organization.
The decision for Mallott to ascend to the role of president follows the departure of Julie Kitka, who served as the leader of AFN for an impressive 40 years before announcing her exit in February. AFN Board Co-Chair Joe Nelson mentioned the extensive statewide search conducted by the board, ultimately leading to the selection of Mallott due to his expertise in Alaska Native affairs and state as well as federal public policy. Prior to his current role, Mallott held positions as AFN’s Director of Communications and Special Assistant to the President, in addition to serving as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski.
Senator Murkowski expressed her congratulations to Mallot, reflecting on his dedicated efforts to improve the lives of Alaska Native communities during his tenure in her office in Washington, DC. Mallott is set to officially assume his new responsibilities in August, allowing for an overlap period with departing President Julie Kitka until October.
In a statement, Mallott expressed his deep honor in taking on this new role and articulated his enthusiasm for collaborating with various communities to advocate for a united and prosperous future together. He also extended his gratitude to Kitka for her exceptional leadership over the years. AFN’s membership encompasses 177 federally recognized tribes, 154 village corporations, 9 regional corporations, and 9 regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums that engage in contracts and compacts to administer federal and state programs. The organization operates under a 38-member governing board.
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Author : usa-news
Publish date : 2024-07-02 00:44:50
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