12 Facts About Joyce Dugan

Joyce Dugan was the first woman to be elected to this office, and as of 2024 the only one.

Joyce Dugan worked to restructure the government and adopt more financial controls.

Joyce Conseen Dugan was born in Western North Carolina to a Cherokee mother, who worked as a maid, and a white father from Tennessee.

Joyce Dugan said she was called "the white Indian" when growing up but was reared in Cherokee culture and enrolled as a member in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Joyce Dugan studied at Western Carolina University, earning her BS and MS in Education.

Joyce Dugan won the primary and run-off, defeating him by a two-to-one margin.

Joyce Dugan established a cultural division in tribal government, which was to be funded in part by monies generated by the casino.

Joyce Dugan later became the casino's Director of Public, Government and Community Relations.

In 2009 Joyce Dugan returned to the tribe's education system when she was appointed again as superintendent of the Cherokee Central Schools.

Since 2013, Joyce Dugan has served into her second four-year term on the Board of Trustees for Western Carolina University.

Joyce Dugan was first appointed by the Governor for the term July 1,2013 to June 30,2017.

Joyce Dugan was next appointed by the General Assembly for the term of July 1,2017 to June 30,2021.