Ms. Onnen was recently elected Tribal Chairperson of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN). Prior to that, she worked for 12 years for the PBPN, most notably in leadership positions, including as General Manager of Tribal Operations and Director of Housing. She has also worked in the Department of Human Resources and in administration, which has given her valuable knowledge and experience.
Ms. Onnen holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Washburn University and also attended Haskell Indian Junior College, accomplishments she could not have achieved without the financial assistance offered by the PBPN Education Department. She was born in Topeka and lives there with her family. As a young girl, she also lived on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Indian Reservation and in Kansas City, Kansas. She is married with two children.
