The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Department of Education celebrated its 10-year anniversary in December.

Founded in December 2015, the department has developed into a central hub for scholarships, student advising, internships and leadership programs. The idea for the department began while Tesia Zientek, now the managing director of programs for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), was working in the Office of Self-Governance for the Tribe.

“Drawing on my own experiences with Tribal scholarships and internships, I saw that our Tribal students could benefit from a consolidated process,” Zientek said.

At the time, she was assisting with the Potawatomi Leadership Program, but felt the broader network of services — scholarship, advising, internships and support for Tribal students who attended St. Gregory’s University while it was in operation — needed a coordinator.

“I shared my thoughts with Vice-Chairman Linda Capps, and she liked the idea,” Zientek said.

She was later approached by Chairman John “Rocky” Barrett with the proposal to establish an education department and appoint Zientek as the director. She accepted, becoming the director in 2015. The Tribe offered three separate funding streams through Tribal Rolls, Housing and Higher Education.

“One of my first priorities was streamlining scholarships,” Zientek told the Hownikan. “I worked through a plan to consolidate the three streams into a single online scholarship application.”

She also prioritized strengthening the internship process and improving outreach to students across the country.

“When I think on my time there, I think about all the students I got to work with, many of whom have worked in some capacity at the Tribe, held leadership roles, run for office, or started Native American associations on their campuses,” Zientek said. “What I am most proud of is that we centered our work on one question: ‘What can we do to serve students?’ I believe that focus still guides the department today.”

Today, the education department consists of four staff members: Director Rachel Watson, Assistant Director Charles Lee, Internships and Projects Coordinator Kym Coe and Student Success Advisor Special Projects Kelley Johnson. The department also has an open Student Success Advisor position.

Watson had a connection with the education department before joining the staff.

“I frequently heard about the scholarship program during Family Reunion Festival and took advantage of the opportunity while pursuing a master’s degree,” they told the Hownikan.

After graduate school, Watson began job searching and heard the education department was hiring. They applied, interviewed with Zientek and joined the team in 2021. Watson became the director in 2024 following Zientek’s departure the previous year.

The education department continues to evolve and make improvements. Even small changes can make a meaningful difference for the students the department serves.

“The Mdamen Leadership Program was first offered in January 2021, and it has become one of the most impactful programs,” Watson said. “Coming into the Circle is an educational event for high school students. The department sends mailers to students across the U.S. and invites them to Tribal headquarters. We give them a tour of the aviary, Cultural Heritage Center and provide a chance for them to learn about dance, regalia and more. We have offered this impactful program for three years and hope to see it grow.”

Other impactful programs and services offered to Tribal members include the Potawatomi Leadership Program and scholarship opportunities.

“Impact can mean a lot of things in terms of individual transformation. PLP, Mdamen and Coming into the Circle are meaningful experiences for participants and for the staff who connect with Tribal members and see firsthand the impact of their work,” Watson said.

Watson explained that the scholarship programs have also impacted many Tribal members over the years.

“Nearly $60 million in scholarship funding has been awarded over the last 10 years,” they said.

Many Tribal students rely on scholarships every semester, and some would not be able to complete their schooling without them.

Watson shared, “I’m not sure how I would have fared in graduate school, in a high cost living area, without the support of the Tribal scholarship. I even benefitted from the reminder calls I now get to make to students who are missing documents right before the deadline.”

The education department has received messages of appreciation from students and families who are grateful for the financial support they’ve received over the years.

“Knowing that our Tribe has set money aside for Tribal members and made a substantial investment in their future is significant. I don’t think a lot of people realize that this is Tribal dollars for Tribal members and a choice that leadership is making to say that this is important to us,” Watson said.

The education department provides advising services and internship opportunities available to Tribal members and the broader community. The department also hosts a college and career fair that introduces 500 to 700 students annually to colleges and career paths across the U.S.

“I am really proud of all the people who contributed to making something that I hope just feels like a given now: the fact that there is a department to help students and that scholarships are easier to navigate,” Zientek told the Hownikan.

“I love hearing from leadership and Tribal members about what they would like to see or what they hope the future of the department will be,” Watson added.

To learn more about the Department of Education and services offered, visit portal.potawatomi.org.