Joyce Conseen Dugan

Born: 1952

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: Native American - Eastern Band of Cherokee

Western Carolina University BS 1974 & MS 1981 both in Education

"None found"

— Joyce Conseen Dugan

Field of Study: Education - Native American Traditional Knowledge

Institution/Corporation: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree: UNC Chapel Hill (2006); Member: Cherokee Indian Hospital Governing Board, the Development Foundation Board of Directors, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, and the Board of Directors for Mainspring [Conservation] (formerly Land Trust for the Little Tennessee), Board of Trustees Western Carolina University (2013),

Awards: 1997 Distinguished Alumni Award, Western Carolina University (WCU); 2024 Chapel of the Four chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion; 1997 Honor roll of Peak Performers, WCU; 1992 Distinguished Woman of North Carolina in the Field of Education; 2000 Outstanding Woman for Western North Carolina

Achievements: 24th Principal Chief of the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (1995-1999) first woman to be elected to this office, and as of 2024 the only one; worked to restructure the government and adopt more financial controls for the tribe; established a cultural division in tribal government, working on "cultural heritage issues such as language, repatriation, museum exhibit, and education." (Wikipedia); initiated programs to try to reduce the Cherokees' high rate of diabetes; with B. Lynne Harlan, wrote a book, The Cherokee (2002), which describes the history and cultural practices of her tribe;