The University of Tulsa’s Cherokee AcceleratHER announces third cohort

The Cherokee Nation and The University of Tulsa have announced the third cohort of the Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship.

Cherokee AcceleratHER is a 12-week, hybrid fellowship through UTulsa’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE). Co-created by the university, former Collins College of Business Dean Kathy Taylor and the Cherokee Nation, the program is designed to help Cherokee citizens who lead for-profit businesses scale through customized curriculum, mentorship and $10,000 non-dilutive seed funding. The fellowship is facilitated by UTulsa alumna Lesley Robinson and Embolden Education alongside CIE. The fall 2026 cohort runs September through December and will culminate with an in-person showcase in Tulsa on Dec. 4.

“CIE’s mission is to help our founders build what’s next for their ventures and for their communities, and the Cherokee AcceleratHER is one of the clearest examples of that mission at work,” said Chris Wright, Ph.D., assistant vice president for innovation and entrepreneurship at The University of Tulsa. “Community-focused programs like this are a big part of why UTulsa has become one of the nation’s top entrepreneurship education institutions, including a recent Princeton Review Top 50 ranking for our undergraduate program – the only Top 50 program in Oklahoma.”

This year’s cohort welcomes 10 Cherokee entrepreneurs:

• Kelly Rowlett, Barrister’s Mark, LLC
• Tamecca Rogers, CareerVibes
• Danielle Williams, EmpathyEd
• Heather Calloway, Endangered Collections
• Autumn Engel, Engel Decon
• Hannah Weilert, Labrynto Pilates
• Ruth Ann Reagan, Reagan Strategic Solutions
• Whitney Virden, Roots + Blooms & Bloom-By Bakery & Cafe
• Monica Lewis, The Caring Crumb co.
• Kellie Morse (Walkingstick), The Clayground

“Entrepreneurs need access to mentoring, skills development, capital and mostly, the encouragement and belief in their ideas. I’m delighted this third cohort of AcceleratHER recipients has been selected thanks to the generous endowment provided by Kathy Taylor and presents such an interesting array of business ideas. I wish each and every one of them nothing but success,” said UTulsa President Stacy Leeds.

The Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship aims to uplift Cherokee entrepreneurs by providing comprehensive support from business planning to growth strategy, culminating in an opportunity to showcase their ventures to mentors, funders and the community.

“Innovation and entrepreneurship drive the Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee people,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “With its third cohort now selected and more success stories of Native American-owned businesses to come, the Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship serves as a great example of how Cherokee Nation and incredible partners, such as The University of Tulsa, are investing in Cherokee-owned business ventures, strengthening communities and growing the economy while helping fuel a strong and diverse landscape of entrepreneurial culture.”

Since launching in 2023, AcceleratHER has awarded $250,000 in non-dilutive Cherokee Nation seed grants across three cohorts. Fellows report measurable gains on the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile, including +1.49 in financial confidence, +1.39 in leadership clarity and +1.21 in innovation skills.

The program has been featured in USA Today, Ms. Magazine, Tribal Business News and the Tulsa World, and its model has been shared through presentations at GCEC and USASBE, research accepted by the Diana International Research Institute and a featured panel at New York University’s Racial Equity in Technology Entrepreneurship Workshop.

“The business world is compelled by those willing to take a risk and turn their dreams into a reality,” said Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “Cherokee Nation is committed to the development of Cherokee entrepreneurs, and we work diligently to combat the many disparities faced by minority-owned small businesses and startups. That is why we offer unique programming, such as Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship, educational opportunities, loans, technical assistance, training and much more in support of our tribal citizens who aspire to open, operate and grow their own businesses.”

Selected Fellows receive a $10,000 non-dilutive seed grant provided by the Cherokee Nation, access to business coaching, mentor matching and networking opportunities and community resources without ceding any control, ownership or capital. The program culminates in a showcase event in Tulsa where fellows present their ventures to mentors, funders and the community.

“My research keeps confirming what our fellows tell us directly: When a program is built to affirm identity rather than set it aside, founders don’t just build stronger businesses – they build stronger selves,” said Lesley Robinson, Ph.D., program director of Cherokee AcceleratHER and CEO and chief education officer of Embolden Education. “That’s the thesis behind AcceleratHER’s curriculum: Fellows show real, measurable gains in financial confidence, leadership clarity and innovation skills, alongside a deeper connection to Cherokee culture and community.”

For more information about the Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship, visit https://emboldeneducation.org/accelerather or email accelerather@emboldeneducation.org.