The Executive Council contains members of the administration for the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma, UNL, and the City of Lincoln.
Dr. Mark Button has been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln since July 1, 2019. He also serves as a professor of political science. Button was previously with the University of Utah, where he served in many leadership roles over the past decade, including department chair, associate chair, and director of graduate studies. During his time there, he recruited and retained award-winning faculty across all ranks, spurred new research and academic collaborations in many of the colleges, and expanded the undergraduate curriculum and majors. He also increased the diversity of students and faculty, established new scholarships, increased graduate student funding, and created a successful campus-community public dialogue series.
Button is a first-generation college student and holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in peace studies from the University of Oregon. His doctorate in political science is from Rutgers University. Button has written two scholarly books and numerous articles that focus on political ethics, deliberative democracy, and the history of moral and political thought.
Dr. Jennifer Nelson is the Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In her current role, Nelson is responsible for research strategy and infrastructure and serves as Nebraska's research integrity officer, overseeing the university’s efforts to comply with national requirements and norms for responsible conduct of research and conflict of interest. She has been a Nebraska faculty member since 2011 and has served as director of administration of the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior.
Dr. Michael Boehm serves as the Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources for the University of Nebraska system, roles he assumed in 2017. He oversees a broad range of agricultural and natural resource initiatives across the University of Nebraska system, including leadership of the Rural Futures Institute, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.
As IANR's chief administrative officer, Dr. Boehm manages a workforce of over 1,600 full-time employees, including 330 tenure-track faculty, with an extensive budget and significant land resources. Before his tenure at Nebraska, he was a professor of plant pathology and vice provost at The Ohio State University, where he led strategic planning across the university’s colleges and campuses. Dr. Boehm is an expert in turfgrass disease management, specializing in fungal disease ecology and biological control of Fusarium head blight in wheat. His research has yielded numerous patents and substantial external funding, and he served as president of the American Phytopathological Society in 2013.
T.J. McDowell, Jr. was appointed Chief of Staff to Mayor Gaylor Baird for the City of Lincoln, NE after her re-election in May of 2023. Before joining Mayor Gaylor Baird’s staff, T.J. was an assistant vice chancellor of Student Life and Leadership at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). T.J. served as the Vice President of Campus Community at Nebraska Wesleyan before joining UNL in August 2018. Prior to working in higher education, he served as the Executive Director of the Lighthouse and Clyde Malone Community Centers. T.J. has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in education from UNL. T.J. was born and raised in Lincoln, NE and graduated from Lincoln High with the Class of 1990.
Paul Barnes, MBA, AICP began working as the Long Range Planning Manager for the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department in March of 2016 where he supervises development of the Comprehensive Plan, Capital Improvement Program, Long Range Transportation Planning, and various design review boards. Barnes obtained his B.S. in Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University in 2004 and an M.B.A. from the University of South Dakota in 2008. Barnes has 20 years’ experience working with low and moderate income neighborhoods, development review, and long range planning.
Maggie Stuckey-Ross is the Director of the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Lincoln, where she leads a team of 600+ in the management and operation of $400 million in assets across the community, including parks, trails, pools, public golf courses, and recreation centers. Prior to her work with the City, Stuckey-Ross worked in the non-profit industry and on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. A native of Lincoln, Stuckey-Ross is the proud aunt to 26 amazing kids. Along with her husband David, she enjoys Nebraska basketball and spending time with friends, family, and their rescue dogs.
John R. Shotton is the current Chairman of the Native American Financial Services Association and is also the Chairman of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians. He has served in that capacity since being elected in November 2007. Prior to being elected to the office of Chairman, he served on the Tribal Council as the First Member for two years. Chairman Shotton is a member of the Owl Clan and belongs to the Otoe Eloska Society as well as the Red Rock Creek Gourd Dancers.
Chairman Shotton holds a Bachelors of Business Administration and a Masters of Public Administration Degree from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to serving the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, Chairman Shotton worked for the University of Oklahoma’s American Indian Institute developing and administering programs for tribes across the United States. In 2012, Chairman Shotton was recognized as one of the “Native American 40 under 40” by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.
Anna Bighorse works as a Director, Child Support at Ponca Tribe, which is a Government company with an estimated 77 employees; and founded in 1950. They are part of the Social Work team within the Medical & Health Department and their management level is Director. Anna is currently based in Ponca City, United States. The Office of the Executive Director oversees the various tribal departments and employees to ensure that tribal business is in compliance with tribal policies.
Myra L. Pickering is the current 2nd member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians tribal council. She has held this elected position since 2019. Councilwoman Pickering is the youngest daughter of the late Dr. Aaron and Louise (Poorhorse) Gawhega; the paternal granddaughter of the late Raymond Childs Gawhega, full-blood Missouria, and the late Pearle Murray Gawhega Maker, Iowa; the maternal granddaughter of the late Sidney and Jeannette (Primeaux) Poorhorse, Ponca. For 26 years, she has been married to her husband Sheridan Pickering and they have 2 children, S. Bluebird and August Pickering. She is also a member of the Buffalo clan.
As a dedicated leader, Councilwoman Pickering advocates for the rights and welfare of her tribal members and community. Her commitment to preserving her tribe’s heritage and promoting cultural education is deeply rooted in her family legacy. She strives to empower the next generation of Otoe-Missouria tribal members, ensuring their voices are heard and their traditions honored.