Warrior Magazine November 2016

Chief Anderson Selected Alumna of the Year

Phyliss Anderson (’94), a native of the Red Water Community in Leake County, has served as Tribal Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) in Choctaw since 2011 and is the first woman to serve in the position. She previously served as Red Water councilperson and played an integral role in the Tribe’s success while serving as secretary/treasurer for MBCI from 2003 to 2011. She is also a former director of natural resources. She has more than 30 years of experience in tribal government management and is fluent in the Choctaw language. In honor of her outstanding service to her community and to the Choctaw Tribe, Anderson was selected 2016 “Alumna of Year” at East Central Community College. Upon receiving word of her selection, Anderson said, “This is quite an honor! To join the prestigious list of East Central’s Alumna of the Year is something I humbly accept while filled with great pride in my school. There are so many tribal students who have walked the halls on the East Central campus like I did years ago, and I share this award with them. I have many wonderful memories during my time at ECCC. This school gave me a platform to start a professional career while still staying close to home to care for my family. In the native Choctaw language to express one’s gratitude is to say ‘Yakoki chitto,’ Thank you very much!”

Chief Anderson said the highlight of her career was when tribal members chose her to serve as the first female Tribal Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. “I’ve always thought the position was about leadership; never about gender. I have been so honored and grateful to the Choctaw people for allowing me to be a part of this piece of our history. I truly believe our successes are a collection of tribal members working with a deep sense of unity and desire to do what is best for our Tribe.” In her role as Chief, Anderson wears many hats. In addition to leading tribal government, she serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise, and is often called on to represent the Tribe on a national level. She says her principal role is to “maintain a strong and stable government, progress the economic well-being of our growing tribe and provide resources and services to members of our great Tribe, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.” In nominating Chief Anderson for this award, Melissa Carleton, also an ECCC alumna who serves as deputy attorney general for the Tribe, wrote, “As an employee who reports to and works with her daily, I can attest to her unparalleled work ethic and sincere dedication to the betterment of the Choctaw people and the surrounding area. She has made enormous strides in many areas since taking office,

which have directly benefited both tribal members and non-Indian tribal employees. It is my opinion that she is well-deserving of this honor. …” Chief Anderson has been featured in numerous national publications as a rising leader in the Southeast and in Indian country. She has been honored and recognized with various awards and accolades including the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women “Woman of the Year” award in the political/ state and local government category, and Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Leading Business Women. She has served on a number of governing boards and committees for multi- million dollar enterprises, including those in tribal manufacturing, tribal government contracting, and the gaming and hospitality industry. Chief Anderson said she has met many inspiring people in her lifetime, many who she has worked with or called close friends and some who continue to encourage her now. “I have been so blessed to have mentors in my career such as Chief Phillip Martin, but personally my mother has been the greatest influence in my life. She taught me and my sisters the value of hard work, a passionate heart, fairness, patience, and kindness. She instilled in her seven girls

Chief Phyliss Anderson Class of 1994

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