Biographical Info

Matthew Benjamin Yates serves as the Tribal Services Coordinator at the College of the Muscogee Nation. A citizen of the Muscogee Nation, he earned his Doctor of Business Administration from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and is an American Indian College Fund Fellow. His doctoral research investigates the impact of cultural dissonance within Indigenous organizations. Dr. Yates serves as co-PI on the NIFA Travel-Learn and NSF GIS program grants.
In addition to his administrative and faculty roles, Dr. Yates is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous data sovereignty and leadership. His service to the community includes chairing the board finance committee at The Academies of Oklahoma, where he contributes to the organization’s strategic and fiscal health. He remains committed to scholarly dialogue that bridges the gap between Indigenous knowledge systems and progressive organizational theory.

Select Publications

Yates, M. B. (forthcoming). Indigenous leadership. In D. Stone (Ed.), Handbook of Indigenous work issues.
Yates, M. B. (2026). Operationalizing sovereignty: The cost and structural determinants of cultural dissonance in Indigenous organizations (Doctoral dissertation). Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
Yates, M. B. (2023). Leading by example: Native leadership theory harnesses the power of complexity. Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education.