Dr. Nicole Been (pron. Bean), a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and member of the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town and the Deer clan, is recognized for her expertise in sports, education,  socioeconomic development in Native communities, and DEI. Recently named to the ‘Native American 40 Under 40’ class by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, she is a cofounder of the Been Foundation focused on youth with socioeconomic challenges. She also cofounded Duck Street Investments, LLC, holds Graduate Faculty status at Oklahoma State University (OSU), and recently became Associate Athletics Director of DEI at the University of Oklahoma. Previously, Dr. Been helped move Bacone to public Tribal college status and implement distance learning, served as Dean of the Division of Indigenous Online Teaching and Learning, and held several other roles at the college. An alumnus of OSU, Baylor University, and Bacone where she was on the women’s basketball team, Dr. Been has deep experience in the world of sports and education, working with Orlando Magic of the NBA, the Baylor Lady Bears basketball program, OSU Athletics, Big 12 Conference women’s basketball tournaments, and Langston University Athletics. A three-time published author, she earned her Ph.D. in health, leisure, and human performance from OSU. Dr. Been brings to PWNA strategies to help close the gap in educational achievement, economic development, and financial literacy in rural and Tribal communities and nonprofit leadership.