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Shirlee Silversmith, a member of the Navajo Nation, is the newest director of the Office of Indian Affairs, Gov. Gary Herbert announced Tuesday.
Silversmith was one of about 10 candidates who were interviewed for the job in mid-May, and Herbert said in a statement she was chosen mainly because of her background in education. She has a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Brigham Young University and a master's degree in education from Arizona State University.
Silversmith spent nearly 20 years at the Utah State Office of Education as the American Indian education specialist. For the past four years she worked as the Learning for Life director, an affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America, at the Utah National Parks Council.
"The state of Utah values its relationships with Utah's sovereign tribes," Herbert said. "There are many opportunities for mutual understanding and finding solutions to challenges like education, health care and economic stability."
Silversmith, who was raised on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Central Eastern Arizona, said she was "honored and humbled by the appointment" and paid tribute to previous leaders at the Office of Indian Affairs.
"I would like to pay tribute to past directors of [the] Utah Division of Indian Affairs who laid a sound foundation for this work to continue," she said in a statement.
Rupert Steele, a liaison for the Confederate Tribes of Goshute Reservations, said the roughly 550 members of his tribe south of Wendover need help in the areas of science, reading and history for both primary and secondary school students.
"I hope she can help close that gap," he said. "It's significant."
The Navajo Nation released a statement from President Ben Shelly and Vice President Rex Lee Jim that praised Silversmith's selection.
"She has a strong background in state tribal relations and is highly regarded among the Navajo Nation and the leadership of Utah," the statement read. "We are confident she will do the best job and serve the needs of the approximately 18,000 Navajos in the state of Utah."
The post had been vacant since the controversial dismissal in February of Forrest Cuch of the Ute Tribe, with Herbert indicating at the time he was fired from his director's post for insubordination.
Cuch has denied that charge, and officials with the Ute Tribe had no comment on Silversmith's appointment and also chose not to participate in the selection process for his successor over objections to Cuch's termination from the post.
The Office of Indian Affairs is undergoing a change in its direction and outlines for that plan will be drafted by Silversmith and Mike Hansen, acting executive director for the Department of Community and Culture. That report is expected to be delivered to the Legislature's Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development Interim Committee in August.
Twitter: @davemontero