BIO

Shannon Holsey was elected to a two-year term as president of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Indians in October 2015, following eight years as a member of the Tribal Council. She is the youngest to ever lead the Stockbridge-Munsee, which has about 1,470 enrolled members and is one of 11 Native tribes in Wisconsin. Holsey grew up on the Stockbridge-Munsee reservation in Bowler, Wisconsin, and has committed the Tribe to serving as good stewards of its economic, environmental and culture and tradition as well as intellectual resources. The Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe is the largest employer in Shawano County.

 

Holsey also serves as vice president of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, which represents eleven-member tribes with a land base of about 1 million acres spanning 45 counties.  She is appointed as the Wisconsin State Legislature’s Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations. Co-founder Midwest region Woodland Women WEWIN Chapter. NCAI vice president for the Midwest region, MAST Secretary, INMED Advisory Council, Tribal Technical Advisory Group, NCAI Sub Committee member of land to trust, National Council on Aging committee member, President of nonprofit Dream Catchers Association.

 

Holsey previously served as director of hospitality at the North Star Mohican Casino, the Stockbridge-Munsee’s only gaming facility and main source of revenue. Executive Director of Red Lake Nation Boys & Girls Club, General Manager of Pine Hills Golf Course, Interim Director of Education, Employment and Training and Cultural Affairs for the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe.

 

Holsey’s personal philosophy on leadership recognizes that Native Americans are growing economies, preparing students to succeed, delivering high-quality health care, protecting the environment, tribal sovereignty and solving the unique challenges facing our tribal communities.

 

Holsey received her bachelor’s degree in business administration magna cum laude and master’s degrees in strategic leadership and communication and human resources and employee relations from Seton Hall University and Penn State University with distinction.​​