Angelique Albert Named to Forbes 50 Over 50 List
The Native Forward Scholars Fund CEO has been recognized for her leadership in expanding educational access.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Scholarships
Live Poll
Is higher education becoming less affordable for the average student in your country?
Forbes has named Angelique Albert, CEO of the Native Forward Scholars Fund, to its 2026 50 Over 50 list. Albert is recognized for her efforts to bridge educational affordability gaps for Native students across the United States.
Why it matters
Albert's leadership at the organization focuses on building infrastructure and stability to combat a significant decline in Native college attendance. Her work addresses financial barriers that currently hinder students from over 500 tribes.
Native Forward has awarded $400 million in scholarships to 20,000 students from 500 tribes. While the organization now offers 50 different scholarship funds, Native college attendance has declined by 45% over the past 13 years.
The players
Angelique Albert
She is the CEO of the Native Forward Scholars Fund and was previously the executive director of the Salish Kootenai College Foundation.
Native Forward Scholars Fund
This national organization provides financial aid and support services to Native students from hundreds of tribes.
Forbes
A global media company known for its business reporting and lists that recognize influential individuals across various industries.
MacKenzie Scott
A prominent philanthropist who provided significant gifts to the organization in 2020 and 2025.
The details
Albert previously served as the executive director of the Salish Kootenai College Foundation for five years before leading Native Forward. The organization now utilizes a network of 22,000 alumni and provides wraparound services, including navigation support and emergency funding, to ensure student success.
Timeline
Native Forward received a $20 million gift in 2020.
The organization secured a $50 million gift in 2025.
Angelique Albert was named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 list in 2026.
Culture Shift
Albert's recognition highlights a broader push to prioritize equity in education amidst a significant decline in Native college attendance. This shift emphasizes the necessity of targeted, wraparound financial support to address systemic barriers facing students from over 500 tribes.
Students seeking educational funding can utilize the organization's resources, which now include 50 different scholarship funds. The increased funding capacity aims to make higher education more accessible for applicants struggling with current tuition costs.
The takeaway
Supporting educational equity requires more than just tuition assistance; it demands wraparound services that address unique cultural and financial hurdles. Organizations like Native Forward demonstrate that combining alumni networks with emergency support significantly stabilizes the student journey.
What happens next
The $50 million gift received in 2025 is projected to fund 1,000 additional students each year, with implementation ongoing through 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about financial aid programs by visiting our guide on Scholarships.
More information
Prospective students can access aid resources through the Native Forward scholarship application portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Inter Lake.
Live Poll
Is higher education becoming less affordable for the average student in your country?
