Community spirit: Roseanna S. Belt

 A native of Cherokee, N.C., and an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), Roseanna S. Belt has been director of Western's Cherokee Center since 2001. From child to community leader, the road she followed has indeed been long and winding. Taking her far from her childhood home, it ultimately led her to return with a wealth of knowledge and education to share.

Belt’s academic path led to the University of Colorado at Boulder where she received her bachelor’s degree in History and worked for 10 years as a university counselor. She then received her master’s degree in Counseling and Consulting Psychology from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and, upon returning to Cherokee, she received certification in school counseling from Western Carolina University.

Prior to becoming the Cherokee Center’s director, Belt was a school counselor for 13 years at the Cherokee Elementary School. Today, her position as director allows her to continue the work she started with Cherokee students and achieve her goal of preparing more of them for college.

In addition to her work at the Cherokee Center, Belt serves as a clinical faculty member at Western’s College of Education and Allied Professions, co-teaching “Education In A Diverse Society.” She serves on several university committees related to diversity and minority issues and works closely with the Sequoyah Distinguished Professor in building the Cherokee Studies program at Western.

Belt also serves on the “Yogi Crowe Memorial Scholarship” board, which funds enrolled members of the EBCI to attend graduate school. She is also a board member for Jackson County REACH, which deals with family violence and family support issues. She has recently been called to serve on the State Advisory Council on Indian Education in Raleigh.