Board of Trustees
Board Chair - Destiny Petroske: Destiny Petroske is a Lummi Nation citizen from the Toby and James families. She is the owner of Dee’s Mini Frybread, a frybread and event vending business. She holds an Associate of Arts-DTA from Spokane Falls Community College ’12 and a Bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology with a minor in Communications and Diversity in Higher Education from Western Washington University. Simultaneously, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies Leadership from Northwest Indian College '15. Ms. Petroske further obtained a Master of Public Administration degree in Tribal Governance from The Evergreen State College. In February 2019, she embarked on her Ph.D. journey in Indigenous Development and Advancement at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi in New Zealand.
Ms. Petroske served in various roles at Northwest Indian College from 2015-2022 including Student Activities Coordinator, Muckleshoot Site Manager, TRIO Director and Dean of Academics. She currently holds the role of Policy Analyst for Vice Chairman Adams at the Lummi Indian Business Council. Additionally, she serves as the Vice Chairwoman on the Lummi Commercial Company Board.
Board Vice Chair - Ted Solomon: Ted Solomon, a Lummi Tribal member, is a passionate advocate for preserving his ancestral language. His dedication to this cause stems from his upbringing in a community where the Lummi dialect was fading. Mr. Solomon’s journey to revitalize his heritage language began during his studies at Northwest Indian College in 1989, sparking a cultural awakening within him. This led him to join the Lummi Language Program at NWIC in 1991, where he excelled under the mentorship of one of the last fluent speakers of Xwlemi’chosen. In 2001, he became the Lummi Language Director.
Mr. Solomon served on the Lummi Indian Business Council from 2008 to 2010, advocating for the Lummi community and spearheading language revitalization efforts within the Tribal government. Today, he oversees the Lummi Language and Culture department areas and serves in many capacities to promote culture, language and preservation for the Lummi People.
-Board Members-
Treasurer - Henry Dixon: Henry Dixon, ’24 is a proud member of the Lummi Nation and a United States Air Force Veteran, residing within the boundaries of the Lummi Nation reservation. With a deep commitment to education and community empowerment, Henry holds both an Associate’s and a Bachelor’s degree from Northwest Indian College and is an alumnus of the REii Academy of Entrepreneurship, Community College of the Air Force, and the Tacoma Community College, respectfully.
A devoted family man, Henry honors and upholds Indigenous heritage through leadership and service. He currently serves as the Treasurer for the Northwest Indian College Board of Trustees and is a Board Member of the Northwest Indian College Foundation. He is also the Post Commander and a lifetime member of the John H. Kittles American Legion Lummi Post No. 33, serving with distinction in the Honor Guard. His dedication to Indigenous business development was further demonstrated during his tenure as President of the Northwest Indian College chapter of American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL).
With over 25 years of collective experience in management and leadership roles—including Director, Manager, and Supervisor positions—Henry brings a wealth of expertise in organizational oversight, personnel management, and strategic planning. He is well-versed in applying management principles, labor relations, and operational policies to ensure optimal performance and compliance.
Known for his reliability, sound judgment, and commitment to excellence, Henry consistently meets deadlines, communicates effectively with leadership, and maintains strong working relationships across diverse constituencies. His professional ethos is grounded in service, accountability, and a willingness to go above and beyond in support of his community and colleagues.
Penny Carol Hillaire: Penny Carol Hillaire has served as the Lummi Victims of Crime Coordinator since 2018, dedicating her career to supporting youth and developing programs that empower the next generation. A proud alumna of the Lummi Fisheries School of Aquaculture and Northwest Indian College, Penny later transferred to Western Washington University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Community Recreation. She went on to complete her Master of Social Work degree at Eastern Washington University.
Penny has played a key role in advancing tribal policy, particularly in strengthening the Lummi Children’s Code of Laws to uphold the inherent rights of grandparents in raising their grandchildren and ensuring cultural and familial continuity. She also provided the vision for a youth employment initiative targeting ages 14 to 19, in response to the decline of commercial fishing—once a critical source of community-based youth funding. Her work has focused on ensuring that all young adults have access to education and opportunities that empower them to protect the Lummi Nation’s Treaty of 1855 rights, including the right to education.
Penny remains steadfast in her commitment to the wellbeing of the Lummi community and the future of its youth.
Toni Jefferson: Toni Jefferson, ’02 is an enrolled Lummi Tribal member and life-long resident of the Lummi community. Toni has progressively advanced her professional career within the casino gaming industry possessing over twenty (20+) years. In addition, she has worked with the Tribal government operations to secure over twelve (12+) years executive management and leadership experience employed as Human Resources Director, Deputy General Manager and General Manager. As the Lummi Indian Business Council General Manager she supported the Tribal council to ensure administration systems and executive department management functions, policies and services met the needs of Lummi people and families while complying to federal and Tribal laws, codes and ordinances. She was also an instructor at the Northwest Indian College in Winter of 2012 to Fall of 2013, teaching Protecting and Building Gaming Assets and Introduction to the Regulatory Environment.
Her educational background consists of two-year transfer degree from Northwest Indian College, Bachelor of Arts in Management Information Systems with a Minor in Accounting from Western Washington University. Her graduate level education is attainment of an Executive Leadership master’s in business from Seattle University.
Toni values and practices servant-based leadership while integrating the principles of the Three Ps: People, Place and Profit. Her unique experiences, in-depth expertise of the casino industry, direct knowledge of the Lummi Community values, and executive experience in Tribal government puts her in an excellent position to provide support and leadership to NWIC.
Brandon Morris: Brandon R. Morris currently serves as Director of Treaty Protection for the Lummi Indian Business Council, where he leads major policy initiatives advancing tribal sovereignty and the protection of treaty rights across tribal, local, state, and federal levels of government. A member of the Lummi Nation, his work centers on defending the inherent rights and self-determination of the Lummi Nation.
Brandon's connection to Northwest Indian College runs deep. A proud alumnus, he earned his Bachelor's in Native Studies Leadership before returning to serve as faculty and later as Department Chair for both the Tribal Governance and Business Management and Native Studies Leadership programs from 2019 to 2024. He holds a Master of Public Administration from The Evergreen State College.
As a product of the transformational learning that tribal colleges make possible, Brandon believes deeply in NWIC's mission. Having experienced firsthand how place-based, culturally grounded education can change a life, he is committed to extending that opportunity, access, and learning to others across all the communities the College serves and sees place-based education as essential to the prosperity of cultural sovereignty and self-determination.
LIBC Representative - Cheryl Sanders