Charles Pfeifer

Adjunct Faculty ~ Gaming

Charles Pfeifer is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in tribal gaming regulation and more than a decade in executive leadership and management. Throughout his career, he has held key roles across large gaming operations, including positions in cage operations, surveillance, and compliance. As a Senior Compliance Officer for the Pechanga Gaming Commission, Charles served as a subject matter expert in table games, honing his expertise in internal investigations, audits, and policy development.

Beyond the gaming industry, Charles has successfully managed businesses and led teams of various sizes in supervisory, managerial, and executive capacities. For the past seven years, he has served as Chief Compliance Officer and later Chief Executive Officer of a cannabis manufacturing and distribution corporation in California’s highly regulated industry. In these roles, he oversaw the development of multiple facilities, built high-performing teams, and established policies and best practices within a rapidly evolving market.

Passionate about professional development, Charles enjoys making complex subjects accessible and engaging. Having previously participated in multiple Falmouth courses, he is now excited to bring his experience to the faculty.

Jennifer Barger Johnson, J.D.

Adjunct Faculty ~ Law & Governance

Jennifer Barger Johnson, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, is an attorney licensed in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, the Federal Courts and the Cherokee Nation. She is a native of Oklahoma who grew up in Sallisaw (Sequoyah County).

Jennifer is a Business Law Professor at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) where she has served since 2005. She is also the UCO College of Business’s AACSB Societal Impact Director. Since 2000, she has served as a Municipal Judge for four Municipalities in Oklahoma. She also served as the Vice Chairperson of the Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission (2009-2014), as the Chairperson of the Cherokee Nation Compensation Committee, as the Deputy General Counsel for Energy Law at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and as the UCO Copyright Compliance Officer for 15 years. She is the longest serving UCO Faculty Senate President having served four terms.

Jennifer has taught classes in many areas of business law and human resources. She is an active researcher and has published over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles.

Jennifer was selected by the Cherokee Nation in 2018 to serve as the first every female mentor rider for the Remember the Removal Bike Ride. This ride retraces the northern route of the Trail of Tears annually and spans nearly 1,000 miles over 17 days. She remains very active in tribal affairs. She is a mother of two teenagers, a son and a daughter, and spends most of her time at her son's football games and/or daughter's club volleyball tournaments.

Jackie Gordon

Adjunct Faculty ~ Gaming

Jacqueline Gordon is a member of the Chemehuevi Tribe and has extensive knowledge and experience working in Indian Country. She served on the tribal council for 17 years and held the position of Secretary/Treasurer for over 7 of those years. In her role as a tribal executive member, Jackie oversaw housing, education, recreation, accounting and social service programs. She served on the board of directors for the casino/hotel enterprise and was a member of the ICWA committee, housing board, enrollment committee and ad-hoc committee to review and revise tribal ordinances and procedures.

Jackie has over 25 years of experience in the gaming industry; over 14 years as a casino general manager, and further worked in positions as a shift manager and table games manager.

Jackie possesses over three years of hands-on experience in regulatory matters related to Indian Country and most recently held the position of Chairwoman of the Gaming Commission.

She has an associate degree and holds a gaming certification from San Diego State University.
Jackie has a passion for working in Indian Country and looks forward to meeting and helping others.

Blake Atkerson

Adjunct Faculty ~ Law & Governance

Blake Atkerson, a proud member of the Osage Nation, brings a unique blend of legal expertise, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to teaching and empowering others in critical fields like water, climate and land management. With a background as a licensed attorney in California and an advanced Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Water Resources Law, Blake has spent over a decade navigating complex legal landscapes, advocating for sustainable practices, and guiding diverse stakeholders through innovative solutions to pressing challenges.

Blake’s teaching and consulting approach is enriched by extensive experience in federal Indian law, project management, data analysis, and emerging technologies like generative artificial intelligence. Passionate about fostering resilience and equity, Blake combines a pragmatic and engaging style with a dedication to helping students and collaborators tackle big-picture problems while mastering the finer details of impactful change. Whether diving into grant strategy, climate-smart agriculture or advanced compliance systems, Blake is driven by the mission to inspire action, foster innovation and create pathways for lasting environmental and societal impact.

In addition to earning his LL.M., Blake received his J.D., Law and Health Sciences Concentration from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and a B.A., Political Science (history minor), from San Diego State University.

Ramon McKamie

Adjunct Faculty ~ Human Resources

Ramon McKamie is currently the Training and Development Specialist for Kenaitze Indian Tribe out of Kenai, AK. Ramon and his family moved to Alaska from Arizona in June 2023. At Kenaitze Indian Tribe Ramon is the sole trainer and is responsible for onboarding new employees, annual training requirements, conducting live trainings for staff in various subjects, as well as being the Learning Management System administrator. Ramon is a certified Tribal Human Resources Professional II, Basic Life Support instructor, A.L.I.C.E. instructor, and recently earned the title of Master Trainer through the Association for Talent Development. He went to school at Arizona State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education (biological sciences). He continued his education at Grand Canyon University and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership. He has taught biology to inner city Phoenix students. Ramon transitioned to adult education while working for the Department of Correction, Rehabilitation and Re-entry as a teacher assisting inmates earn their high school diplomas or GEDs. Ramon continued working with adults and transitioned into training as the training specialist for the City of Phoenix’s workforce development program. He is a military veteran with 9 years of active duty in 2 branches of service; 4 years in the US Marine Corps and 5 years in the US Coast Guard. Since moving to Alaska Ramon has learned to fish and enjoys fishing for salmon in the Kenai River during the summertime. He enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Teresa and 2 children, Elaina and Noah. Ramon loves working with people and genuinely wants to see them succeed.

First Last

Adjunct Faculty ~ Human Resources

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Jacque Boyle

Adjunct Faculty ~ Law & Governance

Jacque Boyle is a member of the Oneida Nation and has 35 years of diversified background in engineering, project management, construction and facility maintenance.

She currently serves as a Commissioner for the Green Bay Water Department and is a member of the Oneida Engineering Science and Construction (OESC) Professional Services Board of Directors. She also has a Wisconsin State Fire Inspector License.

Jacque has been in positions of tribal leadership which included the responsibilities of strategic/operational planning, improving budget processes, creating reports for financial analysis, and developing a team approach to capital improvement planning. Her expertise is in applying a systems theory approach to national development, reorganizational design, and business process improvement while honoring cultural values.

While at Oneida, Jacque’s positions included Housing and Public Works Director, Assistant Operations Director, Facilities Manager, and Operations Analyst. In these positions she focused on organizing and facilitating teams through consensus to improve working relationships, identify problems, and develop design solutions. Most rewarding to her in these positions was in identifying and creating opportunities for continued career development of tribal members.

Her previous experience includes working for Nestle Beverage, Cargill and General Mills in various positions such as Project Manager, Maintenance Planner/Purchasing Manager, Assistant Plant Superintendent and Project Engineer. In these various roles she was responsible for implementing safety, sanitation and preventive maintenance programs.

Jacque’s educational background includes a BS in Engineering, an MS in Administrative Science and an MBA.

Craig Jacobson

Adjunct Faculty ~ Finance

Craig Jacobson joined Hobbs Straus as an associate in 1998, and has extensive experience in the areas of real estate, finance, tribal governance, federal contracting, and environmental and natural resources law.

While in law school, Craig began working in Indian Country with the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe in Washington State in 1993. He assisted the Tribe in the creation and management of an environmental department, development of an on-reservation health clinic, and negotiation of Title I and Title IV agreements with the federal government. He has worked on tribal issues facing Indian Country for over 30 years.

He has extensive ISDEAA experience, including Title IV Self-governance (both BIA and non-BIA), expansion of economic development opportunities, tribal sovereign immunity, regulatory authority, as well as protection of tribal resources and assets.

Craig also has a wide range of experience in cultural resources issues, real estate transactions, and housing issues. He often works with tribal governments on the acquisition of ancestral lands and the placement of those lands into trust status.

When not at work, he enjoys sports, music and spending time with his family.

Brigette Finigan

Adjunct Faculty ~ Human Resources

Brigette Finigan is an enrolled citizen of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation. She resides in her ancestral homeland territories in the Pacific Northwest. Brigette is currently serving as the Senior Planner for Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, where she manages their Planning Division and oversees a multitude of community development projects. She has over 40 years of life experience, with over 20 years of work experience in Indian Country. She has worked for tribal governments, other tribal organizations, other non-tribal governments, and non-profit community organizations. Brigette has experience with both official and volunteer roles as a cultural consultant, advocate, and liaison for indigenous communities. Brigette’s area of expertise is in cultural competency and bridging cultural gaps between Indian Country and mainstream American systems and worldviews.

Lyndalou M. Bullard

Adjunct Faculty ~ Human Resources

Eugenia Charles-Newton

Council Delegate, Navajo Nation

Eugenia Charles-Newton, Dinè (Navajo), currently serves as a Council Delegate on the 25th Navajo Nation Council. She was elected to be the Chairwoman of the Law and Order Committee where she leads it in overseeing the Navajo Nation Judicial Branch, Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, Navajo Nation Department of Justice, Ethics and Rules, and other Divisions and Departments that deal with law. She also serves as the Chairwoman of the Gaming Subcommittee working to renegotiate a gaming compact with the State of Arizona.

In addition to serving the Nation, she also co-chairs the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee at the Tribal Interior Budget Council (TIBC) working alongside the Department of Interior as a tribal leader to help appropriate funds across Indian Country.

Eugenia holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law and a Certificate for Tribal Law and Policy. She’s currently working on her Ph.D. at Texas Tech University School of Education in Secondary Education, with an emphasis on policy writing.

Her varied career includes working as a Burger King cashier, a jet welder building 6’ suction tanks for oil fields, a law librarian, a college professor and a prosecutor for the Navajo Nation.

Eugenie has been married for 26 years, has one son and lives on a small farm in Shiprock, New Mexico where she raises 11 sheep, 5 dogs, 3 cats, 2 geese, a llama and donkey named Brand-E.

Jill Ross, MBA-PM

Adjunct Faculty ~ Human Resources

Jill Ross, MBA-PM has over 20 years of experience in business leadership, consulting, and project management in the healthcare, banking, and entrepreneurial industries. She has an MBA in Project Management, Six-sigma and Lean certifications, and spends her free time mentoring students at a specialized business academy. Jill served in the U.S. Navy and currently serves as a member of the Military Affairs Committee at the Vegas Chamber, and as a civic leader for Creech and Nellis Air Force bases. Recently, Jill sold her start-up tech company and has turned her passion for health into a nutrition coaching and consulting company.

Teresa Choyguha

Emcee

Teresa, also known as Sh-Girl, is a citizen of the Tohono O'odham Nation in southern Ari­zona. Teresa performs stand-up comedy and is part of the all-female comedy group, "The Ladies of Native Comedy:" Teresa promotes culture and language in her community. She is part of a group dedicated to reviving traditional pottery making in her Nation. She lives with her family Where the Turtle is Wedged (Sells, Arizona) where she is currently employed by the Tohono O'odham Utility Authority.

Lisa Riggleman

Director, Learning and Development

As the Director of Learning and Development, Lisa Riggleman is responsible for leading the design and delivery process of culturally-appropriate, business related training initiatives for Falmouth Institute. She has worked and traveled extensively in Indian Country for nearly 30 years. Lisa has decades of experience in the nonprofit, education and gaming professions. Most recently, she held senior leadership positions with The Mob Museum and The Neon Museum-both in Las Vegas. She is an avid volunteer and serves on the board of various Las Vegas nonprofits. She earned a Master of Arts in journalism and telecommunications from the University of Wyoming and a Bachelor of Science in journalism and broadcasting from West Texas A&M University as well as post graduate studies and a human resources certification at The University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Brian Pearson, MBA

Adjunct Faculty ~ Human Resources

Patina Park, J.D.

Adjunct Faculty ~ Law & Governance

Patina Park, J.D. is Mnicoujou Lakota and serves as a senior advisor and Executive Director of Tribal State Relations in the Office of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan where she directs the government-to-government relationship between the Governor’s office and Tribal Nations, and works closely with staff across the Enterprise to advise on issues affecting policy and legislative affairs impacting the Tribal Nations and tribal communities. Over the past 20 years, she has worked with both tribal and state governments, and with urban Native communities in various roles. She has represented Native families in state and tribal courts as an ICWA attorney and served a tribal court appellate judge. She has taught Federal Indian Law as an adjunct law professor and held leadership positions with the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, Minneapolis Division of Indian Work, and the Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Justice. Ms. Park has been faculty with the Falmouth Institute for over 12 years.

Ms. Park is Mnicoujou Lakota, her biological family comes from the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux Tribes and her adoptive family is Osage. She graduated from Arizona State University with an undergraduate in Psychology and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law. Ms. Park is married and the mother of 3 boys. She also has 2 demanding cats and a very naughty but adorable dog.

Wes Miller, MEd

Adjunct Faculty ~ Human Resources

Wes was born in Pittsburgh, PA and raised in northeast Ohio. He moved to Las Vegas for economic reasons, meaning he needed a job and Vegas was hiring. He has managed the Learning and Development function for various hotel/casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and has been proudly facilitating training sessions for the Falmouth Institute since 1994.

He earned his BA in Business Administration/HR and a Master’s in Education for Instructional Design.

Wes is also an experienced mediator and was appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court as a Foreclosure Mediator during the financial crisis from 2009-2015. He taught a 40 hour mediation certification program at UNLV during that time and still makes occasional guest appearances for current classes. He is passionate about restorative justice practices and other conflict resolution training. He volunteers with the Nevada Mediation Group to offer conflict resolution training for the Las Vegas community.

At this point, Wes has done both training delivery and instructional design for more than half his life. He knew from a young age this is what he wanted to do and has had the great fortune of loving his work. He lives by the mantra “Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.”

Lesley Moore

Adjunct Faculty ~ Law & Governance

Lesley Moore brings more than 20 years’ experience in grant writing, fund and organizational development, nonprofit management, and community organizing. She earned her undergraduate degree in communications and theatre, and dual MBA and MSW degrees in business and social work. She provides instruction and facilitation, consulting and coaching to individuals and organizations at all levels with particular expertise in grassroots groups and those newer to grant writing. She has content expertise and experience in the arts, social justice, environment and sustainability, emergency preparedness, human services and mental health, adult education, and youth work. She holds a permaculture design certificate (PDC) and continues to study in an advanced regenerative land management program.

Lisa Harjo, MEd

Adjunct Faculty ~ Law & Governance

Lisa Harjo works as the Executive Director for Native American Cancer Research. She is the Principal Investigator on a project with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and provides administrative leadership and oversight for the organization. She supervises staff and maintains all corporate documents and standards. She also provides health education, training, recruits American Indians for cancer screening, and supports cancer survivors through education and outreach in the Denver Metro Area.

After receiving her Bachelors of Science in Native American Education and Child Development in 1974, Ms. Harjo spent the next twenty years teaching all ages from preschool through higher education. She also worked for many years in the field of non-profit organization management and development. She received her Masters of Education in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado at Denver in the early nineties. She co-authored several books in the field of education. She has worked for decades with American Indian tribes and other organizations, facilitating group meetings and trainings, and assisting communities in building consensus and unity of visions.

Ms. Harjo lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, three daughters, grandson, and three granddaughters.