Scott Morgan, Principal Investigator and TCUP Hub Director
Mr. Morgan is the director and principal investigator of the TCUP Hub at United Tribes Technical College. He served within the tribal colleges for 30 years as an adjunct faculty member, IT director, director of Institutional research & sponsored programs, and dean of academics. Since 1997, he has managed grants from several agencies including the NSF, DoD, NIH, USDA, and the Department of Education. He holds an M.S. in Public Safety w. Criminal Justice (Capella University).
Jeremy Guinn, Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Guinn is director of the Intertribal Research & Resource Center at UTTC, where has served as tribal college faculty, department chair, and center director for 21 years. From 2020-2023, he was a rotator with the National Science Foundation, serving various programs in the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). He holds a BS Biology (Bridgewater College), MS Biology (Western Illinois University), and PhD Zoology (North Dakota State University), and AA Native American Studies (Sitting Bull College). He manages grants from several agencies including NSF, USDA, DoEd, NIH, and DOE. His research interests include wildlife ecology, effects of undergraduate research and outreach experiences, and disease ecology. His work has been recognized by national organizations such as AIHEC and The Wildlife Society.
Frankie Harriss, Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Frankie Harriss previously served as vice chancellor for academic affairs at Kaua’i Community College, bringing 29 years of educational experience, including 12 years in community college leadership. She has worked internationally in developing countries, including the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Dr. Harriss holds a doctorate in higher education from the University of Liverpool, a master’s in botany from the University of South Florida, and a bachelor’s in biological sciences from San Diego State University.
Lori Brown, Assistant Director
Ms. Brown has worked for United Tribes Technical College for 23 years. For 21 years she served as director of the Infant Toddler Center. In May 2024 she was named director of the Monarch Project, which works to provide meaningful and successful educational experience for Native American high school students by connecting them to resources, services, and opportunities designed to support their educational endeavors. Ms. Brown holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education & Early Childhood Education from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.
Jaime Chaske, Project Activity Coordinator
Ms. Chaske graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND with an MBA and a concentration in Human Resource Management. She has experience in student advising and administrative support, and serves as a board member for the Sacred Pipe Resource Center, a nonprofit organization committed to engaging members of the community to come together to connect for a positive change.
Senior Consultants
Dr. Gerald “Carty” Monette, former president of Turtle Mountain College, Bismarck, ND (Retired)
Dr. Costello Brown, former program director and acting division director at the National Science Foundation (Retired)
Dr. Paul Boyer, founding editor of Tribal College: Journal of American Indian Higher Education and author of numerous books are reports related American Indian higher Education.
External Advisory Board
Scott Halliday, Director, Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Navajo Technical University (NM)
Scott Friskics, Director of Sponsored Programs, Aaniiih Nakoda College (MT)
Esther Widiasih, Associate Professor of Mathematics, UH- West O’ahu (HI)
Kathy Adair, Director of Development, Bay Mills Community College (MI)
Steve Dupuis, PI and PD LSAMP, Indigenous Research Center Salish Kootenai College (MT)
Milford Muskett, Vice President for Academics, Haskell Indian Nations University (KS)
Don Robinson, Associate Professor of STEM, Diné College (AZ)
Karla Witt, Vice President for Instruction, Oglala Lakota College (SD)
Melissa Peacock, Director, Salish Sea Research Center, Northwest Indian College (WA)
Ardis Eschenberg, Chancellor, UH-Windward Community College (HI)
Wendy Greenberg, Director of Sponsored Programs and Research, Red Lake Nation College (MN)
