Mosteller receives presidential appointment to national board

March 22, 2023

Kelli Mosteller, a 2000 Comanche High School valedictorian and graduate was appointed by President Joe Biden to the National Museum and Library Service Board.

Mosteller has served as the executive director of the Harvard University Native American Program since the summer of 2022. In her role, she works closely with Harvard students, faculty, and staff toward the mission of fostering the well-being of Indigenous people and championing Indigenous excellence. She is dedicated to supporting programming that advances education and scholarship, as well as opportunities that strengthen the Indigenous community at Harvard and beyond.

Before her time at Harvard, she was the executive director for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center (CHC) in Shawnee for 12 years. During her tenure, she oversaw the tribe’s cultural services including a museum, cultural classes and programming, tribal archives, and oral history projects. She also led her team in a multi-year renovation of the CHC’s exhibits, resulting in the museum’s recognition as a Top Ten Native Cultural Center in the U.S. by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums in 2020.

Mosteller was also her nation’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, overseeing historic preservation for thousands of acres of tribal trust lands and well as countless sites in the Citizen Potawatomi’s historic homelands. In addition to these preservation duties, she also oversaw her nation’s Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act effort.

As a Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) tribal citizen, her most cherished role over the years has been as a mentor for Citizen Potawatomi youth, facilitator of women’s ceremonies, and auntie to the eagles at the CPN Eagle Aviary.

She got her BA in history from Oklahoma State University and her Masters and PhD in American history with a portfolio in Native American studies from the University of Texas.