The Christensen Fund to Welcome Two New Directors for Global and U.S. Strategies
Casey Box and Shawn Watts to join Christensen as it implements its Indigenous Rights strategy
The Christensen Fund is pleased to announce Casey Box and Shawn Watts as its newest team members to lead its global and U.S. grantmaking portfolios. “I am thrilled to welcome Casey and Shawn to The Christensen Fund team,” said Carla Fredericks, Chief Executive Officer of The Christensen Fund. “These two leaders will make it possible for us to advance our strategy to support Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and self determination across the communities we partner with in the U.S. and globally. We are excited and honored to add their experiences and expertise to our team.”
Casey Box will join the organization as Director of Global Strategy on October 18, 2021. Casey brings considerable experience leading philanthropic causes to preserve and advance the rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world. For eight years, Casey served as the Executive Director for Land is Life, where he built an inspiring and enduring legacy focused on the advancement of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. He has worked to address issues, including the security of Indigenous peoples and their lands and territories; free, prior and informed consent; and protecting peoples living in voluntary isolation and initial contact. In this new role with The Christensen Fund, Casey will focus on supporting international organizations, leaders and movements in recognizing the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Shawn Watts will join as Director of U.S. Strategy on January 5, 2022. Shawn’s career has focused on Native American law. He joins The Christensen Fund after having most recently served as Director of the Tribal Law & Government Center, Tribal Judicial Support Clinic and Mediation Clinic at Kansas University. Prior to KU Law, Shawn taught at Columbia Law School in New York City where he was the Associate Director of the Mediation Program and also taught an Advanced Mediation Clinic and a Native American Peacemaking Clinic. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Shawn is also a district court judge for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
