Nikki McDonald joined the American Indian Center of Houston as Director in May 2019. As the first in this role, she worked to establish the center which opened in February 2020. With more than 70,000 Native Americans in the Houston area, she works tirelessly to enhance the communities in which they live and work through personal, social, health and cultural development. McDonald understands the needs first hand as a citizen of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.
Prior to joining the American Indian Center of Houston, McDonald worked in the education field for 16 years, most recently as an Assistant Principal. She is a current board member of the Native American Business Association. McDonald holds her Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Lamar University and her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications from Sam Houston State University. She also holds her General Lines Agent License for Property and Casualty.
Walter T. Celestine, Jr. serves as the Program Director of the Native American Employment Training Program for the past 32 years. Celestine is a full-blood Coushatta from the Panther Clan and a citizen of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Livingston. He speaks both the Alabama language and the Coushatta language fluently. Celestine holds a B. A. Degree in History from Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas.
Landon Segura serves as the Field Case Manager for the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribal Council Employment and Training Program. He joined the team in October of 2016. Prior to joining the Alabama-Coushatta Employment and Training Program, Segura worked marketing and recruiting in the hydraulic, pneumatic and oil industry. Most recently as a recruiter for an engineering firm. Segura holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing & Management from American InterContinental University and Bachelor of Art and Science in Community Health Education from Lamar University.
Dr. Julie Zahn, citizen of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, serves as the Academic Counselor for the TBTLA Education Department- TX Region. Prior to joining the Education department, Zahn worked in the educational field as a Special Education Teacher, ESL Teacher, and Dyslexia Interventionist. She has taught PK-12th Grade. Zahn holds a Doctorate of Education (EdD) in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Special Education, Educational Specialist Degree in Curriculum & Instruction/Special Education, Master’s Degree in Education, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and Associates of Applied Science in Human Services. In addition, Zahn completed a Graduate Dyslexia certification program.
Brooke Mulder, a citizen of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, is currently serving as the Community Outreach Assistant for the American Indian Center of Houston. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Finance with a minor in the Chinese Language from the University of Houston. She previously worked for a real estate startup out of Silicon Valley and is excited to serve and foster connections in the Houston indigenous community.