NIEA Board of Directors Election Process

To submit your nomination for the 2020 Board of Directors election, please click here.

To find out more about the NIEA Board of Directors Election Procedure, please click here.

The NIEA Board of Directors consists of twelve seats held by ten General Board Members and two Student Board Members. Both General Board Members and Student Board Members serve staggered terms on the Board of Directors. General Board Members elected in 2020 will serve a four-year term and Student Board Members will serve a two-year term. All members of the Board of Directors must remain members in good standing for the duration of their term.

For the 2020 Board of Directors election, there will be four (4) vacancies:

  • Two (2) General Board Members representing the West Region. Qualified candidates must reside within the NIEA West Region (AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA); and

  • One (1) General Board Member representing the At-Large community. Qualified candidates may reside anywhere within the United States; and

  • One (1) Student Board Member.

Regional Representation Meetings

In October 2018, the NIEA membership amended the Constitution and By-Laws to require regional representation on the NIEA Board of Directors. To comply with these new requirements, the NIEA Board of Directors is currently in the process of transitioning to a Board that consists of the following:

  • Six (6) Regional Board Members elected to represent one of the following regions, within which the Board Member is required to reside—West, Alaska, Great Plains, Hawaiʻi, Southeast, and Northeast; and

  • Four (4) At-Large General Board Members elected to represent Native students throughout the United States. At-Large seats may be filled by a qualified candidate, regardless of where they live within the United States.

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Major Board of Directors Responsibilities

Meetings and Commitments of NIEA Board Members
Board members are required to:

  • Participate in regularly scheduled monthly Board meetings.

  • Serve on at least 2 standing committees and attend monthly committee meetings.

  • Travel to attend special events or meetings, e.g. Legislative Summit, Annual Convention, as they are determined.

  • Make a financial contribution and seek out other ways to ensure the fiscal stability of the organization.

 General Expectations of NIEA Board Members

  • Active engagement in Board business, i.e. participate in all Board meetings and in committee work.

  • Knowledge of the organization’s mission, purpose, goals, policies, programs and services, strengths, and needs.

  • Understand and uphold the policies and procedures of NIEA.

  • Help communicate and positively promote NIEA’s mission and programs to the community.

  • Gain familiarity with NIEA finances, budget, and financial/resource needs.

  • Meaningfully contribute to NIEA’s fundraising efforts.

  • Assist NIEA with creating sponsorship and partnership opportunities.

Board of Directors Election Rules

Election Procedures

  • Election of Board of Directors will be held on-site at the NIEA Convention. Election procedures will be in accordance with election procedures established and published by the NIEA Board of Directors. Election of BOD will be by vote of eligible members of NIEA. Each voting member shall be entitled to one vote; proxy votes shall not be allowed.

Voting On-Site | Friday, October 9, 2020

  • On-site elections will be conducted onsite at the designated voting area.

  • Voting members of NIEA are entitled to one vote only.

Voting by Absentee Ballot | Due Tuesday, October 6, 2020 by 12am EST

  • Individuals who have paid their 2020 membership may request absentee ballots if they are unable to attend the 2020 Convention.

  • Absentee ballots must be submitted by October 6, 2020.

  • Please e-mail the NIEA office to request an absentee ballot at NIEA@niea.org.

Election Results

  • The process of tabulating the official votes for Board of Directors candidates will adhere to Article IV of the NIEA Constitution, and all votes will be tabulated on-site by the NIEA Board Ombudsman, Governance Committee, and/or their designates.

  • The candidates with the highest number of votes will be offered a seat on the new of Board Directors.

  • Election results will be announced at the final General Assembly.

 Election Challenge Procedure

  • If there is a challenge to the election results, it must be filed with the NIEA Ombudsman by 12:00 pm MST on Saturday, October 10, 2020. In the event of an election challenge, the NIEA Board of Directors will convene a meeting to address any challenges.


Contact the NIEA Office with any questions at (202) 544-7290 or NIEA@niea.org.