Courtney Ruark, a member of the Cherokee Nation, joined INDN’s List as the Chief of Staff with a wide range of political experience.  She is now the acting Political Director for this election cycle.  Her background includes working on campaigns, as a consultant, and with the Democratic Party.  Her campaign experience is wide-ranging, from organizing for a Presidential campaign to managing a successful City Council campaign.  She has spent time working in Washington, DC, on both Capitol Hill and at the White House.

Serving as Senior Associate and Media Buyer, Courtney worked at a political advertising and strategy consulting firm in Oklahoma during the 2004 election cycle.  In her time there she managed statewide clients, developed fundraising plans, wrote and designed persuasion mail pieces, and assisted with the production of television and radio advertising.  In 2005, putting her media buying skills to the test, she placed over $1 million in advertising.

In the early summer of 2006, Courtney began working for the Democratic National Committee in Oklahoma.  That election cycle saw big wins for Democrats in Oklahoma, including winning 8 of the 9 statewide constitutional officer races.  She specifically focused on getting youth more motivated, involved and mobilized, and recruiting more women to run for office.

Courtney graduated from the University of Oklahoma, magna cum laude, with a degree in Political Science, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  She believes in the organizing power of Post-It notes, and spends her spare time reading and caring for her four fish, George, Howard, Buddy & Samuel Jacksms.  If she likes you, you can call her Court.