Connecting Under the Big Sky
Montana Student Affairs Conference
June 12 and 13, 2008

Ms. Reno Charette

Reno Charette has administered several federally funded programs serving American Indian populations in higher education and in fostering relationship building skills with Montana tribal groups.  Her Master of Arts degree in History is specialized in the American West supported by a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Native American Studies.  Ms. Charette is a member of the Crow Nation and a descendent of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa.  She was raised on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.

Ms. Charette currently serves Montana State University Billings as the Native American Studies Program Coordinator.  She teaches in the Native American Studies department and collaborates with campus leadership to enhance services targeting American Indian issues.  She provides leadership, campus wide coordination, staff and faculty cultural diversity training, grant writing, data analysis, and direct student services.

Ms. Charette served in Governor Brian Schweitzer’s office as the Coordinator of Indian Affairs for the state of Montana where she facilitated communication between the Tribal Councils of Montana’s eight Indian Nations and state government agencies. 

Ms. Charette served as the Project Director for the Big Horn Teacher Projects at Montana State University-Billings where she directed four teacher-training grants funded to increase the number of American Indian teachers. She also served as the Program Assistant for the Circles of Care project at In-Care Network where she compiled research to develop culturally relevant mental health interventions for children with serious emotional disturbances.  Ms. Charette worked for the School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana as the Project Coordinator for Health Careers Opportunity Program where she recruited American Indian high school students from Montana’s seven Indian reservations to pursue careers in pharmacy and physical therapy.  

Ms. Charette volunteers for ministry services at the Montana Women’s Prison in Billings, MT.  She is also serves on numerous boards including, Billings Fair Housing Board, College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, Career Services Advisory Board, Youth Justice DMC Committee, Indian Philanthropy and Non-Profit Group, Urban Institute Advisory Board, Yellowstone CASA Board of Directors, and the Montana Indian Business Alliance.