President Bush appointed Diane Cullo as the executive director of the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities in May 2004. In this capacity, Ms. Cullo leads the staff support of the President’s Board of Advisors on tribal colleges and universities to ensure that the nation’s 34 tribal colleges are fully recognized and have access to the Federal programs that benefit other postsecondary institutions. In addition, Ms. Cullo assists Secretary of Education Rod Paige in the role of liaison between the executive branch and tribal colleges in carrying out his responsibilities under the President’s Executive Order.

Prior to this appointment, Ms. Cullo served as the director of development, communications and program initiatives for the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), the national organization representing the 34 tribal colleges in the United States and one Canadian institution. In this role, she served as a liaison with the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities and initiated and coordinated partnerships with Federal agencies; affiliate organizations, foundations and corporations.

Ms. Cullo is a results-oriented visionary with an 18-year record of achievement and demonstrated success increasing collaborative opportunities and strategic alliances.