Dr. Robert Martin (Cherokee Nation) became President of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) on July 1, 2007. He has led the development of a comprehensive strategic plan and a campus facilities master plan resulting in academic program expansion, growth in student enrollment, construction of five new buildings on campus and the launch of a successful capital campaign. Prior to joining the IAIA community, Dr. Martin was the Associate Head for the American Indian Studies program at the University of Arizona. He also served as President of Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque for eight years and president of Haskell Indian Nations University for ten years. Under his guidance, Haskell made the transition from junior college to a university offering baccalaureate programs. In addition, he served as the President of Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC) in Sells, Arizona. During his tenure, TOCC achieved accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and was designated as a 1994 Land Grant Institution by the U.S. Congress.

Dr. Martin is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Kansas and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University.

He currently serves on the boards of American Indian Higher Education Consortium, Lensic Performing Arts Center and the Higher Learning Commission—a regional accreditor for colleges and universities. Dr. Martin was awarded the Liberty Bell Award by the Douglas County (Kansas) Bar Association, bestowed on Law Day USA to recognize individual contributions to human rights. He also was awarded an honorary doctorate from Baker University and in 2010 he received the Tribal College President of the Year Award.

Biography coming soon.

Jason S. Ordaz is a professional in communications, marketing, and branding with over 22 years of experience in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He led the rebranding efforts for the School for Advanced Research’s (SAR) centennial campaign in 2007, showcasing his attention to creativity and detail.

Ordaz’s writing and photography have been featured in prominent publications, including Vogue, The Smithsonian, The New York Times, Progresso Fotografico Magazine, Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo, Forbes, and THE Magazine.

As the Chief Communications Officer at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), he plays a role in the IAIA President’s Cabinet, collaborating with colleagues to shape IAIA’s communication strategies. His work in editorial, design, and photography has helped enhance IAIA’s visibility and engagement globally.

Beyond his professional work, Ordaz is passionate about supporting Native and Indigenous communities. He has established connections with Tribal Nation communities and organizations such as Marvel and Disney, The Jane Goodall Institute, CalArts, The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, The Santa Fe Botanical Garden, and several local media outlets.

Ordaz’s career reflects a commitment to quality and a deep dedication to the causes he supports, making an impact within both the communications field and the communities he serves.

Biography coming soon.

Tamara Johnson is the Director of Institutional Research. She has been a member of the IAIA community since 2020 when she began working in the university’s Online Learning department.

Johnson has over a decade of experience in education and non-profit management in the United States and abroad, with a focus on experiential, cross-cultural, and arts-based learning. In addition to her leadership role in Institutional Research, she teaches in IAIA’s MFA in Cultural Administration program and dances with a local movement arts organization, MoveWest.

Patsy Phillips (Cherokee Nation) has worked for over twenty-five years with Indigenous artists, educators, scholars, and administrators who advocate for the advancement and understanding of contemporary Indigenous arts and cultures. Phillips begins her 16th year as the Director of the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Before joining MoCNA, Phillips worked at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (2000 to 2008), where she participated in the opening of the Washington, DC, Mall museum in 2004. Phillips holds an MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University, a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from Harvard University, and a BA in Anthropology from Southern Methodist University. Phillips oversees the day-to-day operations of the museum.