Profiles of San Carlos Apache College’s Board of Regents
Board Chairperson – Durena Thompson
Durena Thompson works for the San Carlos Unified School District # 20 as the principal of San Carlos High School. She has a Bachelor’s of Science and two Master’s degrees: one in Educational Leadership and another in Supervision and Administration in Education. She has worked for the school district now entering her 25th year. A lifelong resident of San Carlos, she enjoys the company of her grandchildren and participating in traditional ceremonies.
Vice Chairperson – Dr. Philip Stevens
Dr. Philip Stevens was born on the San Carlos Apache reservation in Arizona, and is an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache tribe. Dr. Stevens has an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Language, Reading, and Culture from the University of Arizona. He is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of American Indian Studies for the University of Idaho.
Board Secretary – Loreal Jones
Loreal Jones is an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe who resides in the Bylas district. She has an MBA and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Currently, she serves as the Executive Assistant and Softball Coach at the Fort Thomas Unified School District. She has been a member of the Board since January 2022.
Member – Isaiah Belknap
Isaiah Belknap is an enrolled Member San Carlos Apache Tribal who resides in Seven Mile District. He holds a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration and a Master’s of Business Administration with an Emphasis in Health Systems Management from Grand Canyon University. He has 28 years of overall Healthcare experience in emergency management, public health and education, and currently serves as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the San Apache Healthcare Corporation, Izee Ba Gowah.
Member – Shirley M. Boni
Shirley M. Boni was born and raised on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, and is an enrolled member of the Tribe residing in the Peridot District. She has a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix and more than 49 years of work experience in healthcare management and leadership. Until her retirement in 2024, she served as the Director of Clarence Wesley Health Center located in the Tribe’s Bylas District. She has been a member of the Board since 2021.
Member – Jessica Natsyn
Jessica Natsyn serves as the Exceptional Student Services Director with the San Carlos Unified School District. She earned a Bachelors of Education in Elementary Ed and Special Education, a Master’s in Autism Spectrum, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis on Special Education. She resides in the Seven Mile district on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
Member – Kerri Sangster
Ms. Kerri Sangster is a highly respected leader in the community, and currently serving as the Tribal Liaison/Outreach Coordinator for the University of Arizona’s Wassaja Carlos Montezuma Center for Native American Health. Previously she served as the Employee Development Coordinator at San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation. She earned a Master’s in Education in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Arizona State University, and sitting on the Advisory Board for the University of Arizona. Her passion for fostering educational opportunities and preserving the rich heritage of the San Carlos Apache Tribe will play a critical role in shaping the direction of the college as it continues on its journey to support generations of students.
Roberta Patten, Board Member Emeritus, and was born in Chicago, raised in Peridot, and is a member of the Seven Mile Wash District. She graduated from University of Texas of El Paso with a Master’s Degree in Special Education, and dedicated her life to teaching San Carlos elementary, junior high, and junior college students, as well as serving as a career counselor. She formerly, taught 6th grade at San Carlos Middle School. Roberta has been a member of the Board since 2019 until 2024.