Scholarship program to assist Native accounting and finance students

American Indian Graduate Center has created the Investing in Native CPAs Program, a $2 million scholarship initiative that will fund 150 Native scholars pursuing accounting and finance degrees with the goal of increasing Native Certified Public Accountants within the next 10 years.

Funded with a generous $1 million gift from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation and a $1 million match from American Indian Graduate Center, the Investing in Native CPAs initiative is intended to increase diversity in the accounting and finance fields. The scholarship will support Native students with tuition and the cost of exam fees required for professional licensure, such as the Uniform CPA Examination Fee.

“The Investing in Native CPAs initiative addresses an opportunity gap in the accounting and finance fields,” said Angelique Albert (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), executive director of American Indian Graduate Center. “Data from the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) indicates Native professionals represent only 0.3% of individuals holding both a bachelor and master’s degree in accounting — the population most likely to attain a CPA.

“To promote self-determination in Tribally driven economic development, it is critical to have a full spectrum of financial and accounting professionals. Through the Investing in Native CPAs Program, American Indian Graduate Center is developing a stream of Native CPAs and finance officers with the skill sets necessary to empower Tribal communities.”

To learn more about the Investing in Native CPAs Program and all of American Indian Graduate Center’s scholarship opportunities, contact fellowships@aigcs.org. For more information about American Indian Graduate Center scholarships visit www.AIGCS.org.