Arizona Law Alumnus Chosen to Lead White House Council on Native American Affairs

Sept. 2, 2021
Justin Boro
Old Main

In May, Arizona Law alumnus Anthony (Morgan) Rodman (’09) was named executive director of the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA). This marks the second time Rodman has held the post. He was also executive director during the Obama-Biden administration. 

The WHCNAA is an interagency council that includes senior-level leaders from across the federal government and was established by executive order in 2013 in response to requests from leaders across Indian country. The council helps coordinate, develop and advise on policy issues across the federal government to address longstanding inequities faced by tribal communities across Indian county. Another key role of the council is to ensure that federal departments and agencies are engaged in substantial tribal consultations. The Secretary of the Interior serves as the chair of the council. 

“It is an honor to serve in this role once again,” said Rodman. “Under the leadership of Secretary Haaland, we have an opportunity to build on the work we began during the Obama-Biden administration and center the voices of Tribal communities as we advance our work on key issues such as climate change, Tribal homelands and treaties, and economic and clean energy development.”  

The council met for the first time under the Biden administration in April 2021 and announced that it will hold a White House Tribal Leaders Summit in late 2021. The summit will give leaders from the 574 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to meet directly with the president and senior level officials in the Biden administration.  

Since rejoining the WHCNAA in May, Rodman oversaw the council’s second meeting this August. At the meeting the WHCNAA Health Committee announced that it will convene a consultation session and dialogue with tribal leaders focused on COVID-19 and improving health care systems in Indian Country. The health committee will then develop an action plan informed by this dialogue to improve federal crisis response initiatives. 

Rodman is a member of the Cherokee Nation and Osage Nation. Originally from Oklahoma, Rodman has held the role of acting director of the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development for the past two years. He is a graduate of Harvard University and University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.