Leadership

Presidentially appointed, Lillian A. Sparks was confirmed by the United States Senate as the Commissioner of the ANA in March 2010. A member of the Rosebud and Oglala Sioux Tribes, Ms. Sparks has devoted her career to supporting the educational pursuits of Native American students, protecting the rights of indigenous people, and empowering tribal communities.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Sparks served as the Executive Director of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) where she worked extensively on K-12 and early childhood education policy to secure funding to positively impact American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students.

With a background in Political Science and Law, Ms. Sparks was named one of seven young Native American Leaders by USA Today Magazine.

View the organizational chart to learn more about other ANA staff.