Shanan Campbell, Commissioner

Commissioner Shanan Campbell, a Colorado native, is a graduate of Ft. Lewis College in Durango and has extensive professional experience working for the Smithsonian Institution and as director for a nationally recognized Durango art gallery. Her family ties have also contributed to stimulating and supporting her artistic interests. As she is the daughter of famed artisan and jeweler, U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, she still recalls traveling with her father to art shows across the country when she was a child.

Through Commissioner Campbell's nationwide Native American connections, professional acquaintances, and first hand experiences, she has developed a unique and in-depth expertise in fine original western and Native American art in the southwest.

Jana McKeag, Commissioner

Commissioner Jana McKeag, a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, is Vice-President of Governmental Relations for Venture Catalyst tribal gaming operations consultants, and serves as a member of its Board of Directors. In addition, she is of counsel to Williams Mullens Strategies and Dykema Gossett Public Affairs, two government affairs consulting firms based in Washington, D.C. She is also a columnist for the trade publication “Indian Gaming Business.”

Commissioner McKeag previously served as Commissioner, for the National Indian Gaming Commission; Director of Native American Programs, for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and held senior management and policy level posts at the Department of the Interior, including positions in the Office of the Secretary. She has served as the Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations-Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary-Office of Trust and Economic Development of the BIA.

Additionally, she has served as a Congressional Fellow in the office of Senator Conrad Burns, held policy making positions at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; was Education Director of the National Congress of American Indians, and held the position of Assistant to the Director of the American Indian Policy Review Commission, a joint Congressional study on American Indian issues.

She currently serves as an officer and member of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. She has received a number of awards for her professional and civic contributions, including the Department of the Interior’s Points of Light Award by the Secretary of the Interior.

Commissioner McKeag holds a B.A. in English and Education from Gettysburg College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Henry Townsend, Commissioner

Henry Townsend is a retired Administrator of Native American Affairs for PNM (Public Service Company of New Mexico). He is a Native American from San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico. Townsend graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. Townsend began work at PNM in 1976 as an electrical engineer to manage and design electric power transmission line projects. He also worked in other engineering departments while employed at PNM. Before leaving PNM, Townsend worked as a liaison to promote and develop business relationships between PNM and southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado) Native American governments. Townsend is involved with business issues including infrastructure development, taxes, environmental, right-of-way issues, water rights, economic development, and others that are required while working with Native American governments. He also interfaced and lobbied state and federal government officials on various issues involving Native American governments.

Townsend is an advocate for education of young Native American students. He is a founder of the Zia Sun Power solar voltaic program where engineer volunteers assist teachers to teach fifth grade student’s math and science via alternative methods, using solar powered model car kits. He also developed a scholarship program for Native American students at PNM for students attending New Mexico universities.