Joanna Mounce Stancil, a member of the Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, has been named director of the Office of Tribal Relations at the Department of Agriculture.

As director, Stancil will help the USDA improve its tribal consultation policies and improve its dealings with Indian Country. She will work closely with Janie Simms Hipp, who serves as Senior Advisor for Tribal Relation to Secretary Tom Vilsack.

"Joanna's background is a mix of corporate, tribal, and federal experience. She has been a successful small business owner, contractor, and consultant to numerous Tribal governments," Vilsack said in a press release today. "We are pleased to have her as a key contributor to our efforts to work closely with tribal governments, communities and the individuals USDA serves in Indian Country."

Stancil, a journalist, has worked for the Small Business Administration and the Census Bureau.