Sheila Bong is a Blackfeet Tribal member who gained her deep appreciation for Native language preservation when she worked as a teenager transcribing oral traditions from the lips of Tribal Elders in her hometown of Browning, Montana. While written historical records serve practical purposes, Sheila was struck by the desperate need to save the Blackfeet language from extinction. She supports NILI’s mission and is honored to be a member of its Advisory Board. Sheila was a high school exchange student in Japan for one year. She received her B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University followed by a career in international business. Her ability to speak Japanese was critical to her business success giving her a deeper appreciation for the power of language and culture. In 2001, she co-founded Avant Assessment in partnership with the University of Oregon and the Center for Applied Second Language Studies. Sheila currently serves as program director of the Global Studies Institute where she focuses on promoting and developing internationally-oriented programs, projects and initiatives to enhance faculty research, enrich the student experience, and showcase the University of Oregon’s academic excellence.