Neihardt Foundation Board
Members
and Staff
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors meet twice per year, according to Neihardt Foundation by-laws. Meetings are held annually the first Sunday in August and the first Saturday in February. Minutes are available to the public upon request.
Timothy Anderson
Author of Lonesome Dreamer: The Life of John G. Neihardt and emeritus professor of journalism at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
“I met John Neihardt in the fall of 1972 while I was a university student and he had just published his memoir All Is But a Beginning. More than two decades later, while vacationing in Sweden, I re-read Black Elk Speaks and was left with so many questions about Neihardt that I set out to find some answers. The result was a biography.”
*Jon Bailey, Secretary
Gary Bowen, FAIA
Principal Emeritus, BVH Architects
“I was invited to join the Neihardt Board by Nancy Gillis, former Ex. Director. Nancy and I serve on the Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Board in Walthill.”
Michael Carroll, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Goodrich Scholarship Program and Native American Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha
“Having been impressed with Black Elk Speaks and such poems as April Theology, I was honored to meet John Neihardt in 1971 while I was teaching in Lincoln. Decades later, I had the chance to share his writings with students in my Humanities and Native Studies classes at UNO.”
*Jon Cerny, PhD, President
Superintendent of Schools, Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools
“I became interested in Neihardt after attending the Sundays at the Museum programs while living in Bancroft. As I learned more about the man, the more I wanted to know.”
Walt Duda
Retired property manager
“I was introduced to Black Elk Speaks while a student at Dana College. Twenty years later I met Hilda Neihardt and told her much that book impacted my life. She asked me to serve on the board and I have been serving ever since.”
Mike Fisk
Technology-Business Development
“My great aunt knew John Neihardt well, lived in Bancroft. Her husband was a grandson of Joseph ‘Iron Eye’ LaFlesche.”
Nancy S. Gillis
Retired educator, independent historian
“As a young urban Native in the early 1960s, I was first introduced to Neihardt through Black Elk Speaks and was aware of its impact on the activist movement in the late 60s and early 70s. Moving to Nebraska in 1987 to work with the Winnebago Tribe I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in Neihardt's neighborhood and the museum in Bancroft just 20 miles from me, so began attending the Sunday programs. Then I began reading more of his works. In 1997, while on faculty at Wayne State College (Neihardt's Alma Mater) the Director at that time, Dr. John Schneider, hired me as his assistant director. In 2001 I became the director and served 19 years total. After retirement I naturally joined the board as a part of the corporate memory and it is my pleasure to continue to serve and help the Foundation fulfill its mission of educating, inspiring, and perpetuating the legacy of this remarkable man's life and work.”
*Paul Hammel, Vice President
Senior Reporter, Nebraska Examiner (Nebraskaexaminer.com)
Mary Margaret Hines
Advertising Executive, author of Who Cries for Mother Earth
“I first met Ben Black Elk as a college student working summers at Mount Rushmore. He was a grandfatherly figure to me, and we became friends. He gave me a copy of Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt. The book had a profound effect on my life and is the primary reason I wanted to be on the Board of Directors of the Neihardt Foundation.”
Dr. David J. Hoelting
Coralie Hughes
John Neihardt's granddaughter, Hilda's daughter (Hilda is Neihardt’s daughter.)
Robin Neihardt
Composer and Classical guitarist
“I am John Neihardt's grandson, and Hilda's son.” (Hilda is Neihardt’s daughter.)
Lisa Nelson
Director of Service-Learning, Wayne State College
“I was drawn to the story of Neihardt as a young boy taking classes and ringing the bell at Nebraska Normal (WSC) and how Dr. Pile trusted and believed in him. I always take WSC visitors to the area where the bell is and tell them about John. I am touched every time I read the Messiah section of Black Elk Speaks, particularly ‘It looked as though we might all starve to death. We could not eat lies.’ Such extraordinary men. It is truly an honor to serve on the JGN board.“
Michael Oltrogge, PhD
President – Nebraska Indian Community College
“I want to serve on the Neihardt Foundation board because Neihardt was able to show a realistic side of Native American life in a time where stereotypes and misinformation were the norm.”
Myron Pourier
Great grandson of Nicholas Black Elk
Merlyn W. Vogt, DDS
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Director of Admissions, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry
“I am a native of Bancroft and lived one block from the Neihardt Center. My bookcase is filled with Native American literary works. My favorite Neihardt book is All is but a Beginning. I am currently listening to The River and I on Audible. Joe Starita's books, I Am a Man and A Warrior of the People, are outstanding reads. Tim Anderson's Lonesome Dreamer was excellent. Joe Jackson's Black Elk ranks right up there with the rest.
*Patty Wegner
Retired educator
“As a young student at Bancroft Public School, I recall going with the entire school K - 12th grade to the gym to listen to John G Neihardt. As a youngster I didn’t comprehend what this speaker had accomplished and created, but I remember the collective awe that we felt as Mr. Neihardt sat among us and spoke.”
*Denotes officer
Historic Site Staff
Marianne Reynolds
Executive Director
Keeley Heise, PhD
Executive Admin Assistant
Rod Peters
Maintenance and Grounds