Diane “Dee” Neiter
Indian Support Staff

Dee was nominated by her colleagues because of her many years of devotion to the Indian community of Billings. She has dedicated 28 years to being a fierce advocate for positive change for Indian people academically and professionally. She strongly encourages her students to participate in their student councils; she defended the right of Indian Education staff to active members of the BCEA and then fought to have the after school hours worked by Indian Education staff compensated in a forty hour week contract.

Perhaps the best way to understand the impact Dee has made across the generations is through the words of one of her former students turned colleagues, Jyton. Jyton met Dee her second year off the reservation, she was struggling to adjust to city living and her new urban school. Dee knew and understood that she was in need of accommodations that the school system couldn't recognize or understand. Dee’s gentle loving ways made school bearable and doable, because she believed in her. Years later, Jyton is now working alongside Dee as her colleague. Jyton has experienced the love and support of Dee and now gets to watch her put hope into her younger generation of students.

It is with pride that we recognize Dee with this year’s Support Staff Award.