Foundation Associates

The MCN Scholarship Foundation would like to recognize exceptional contributors to the Foundation as Foundation Ambassadors. Each of these individuals are not only outstanding professionals in their fields, but have also brought their expertise to Foundation and contributed greatly to our mission and goals through community, donor, and educational engagement. As a part of their Ambassador duties, each person volunteers and/or participates in Foundation events when available and serves as Ambassadors for the Foundation in outreach events. Mvto! Herre Mahe!

Dr. Pete G. Coser

Dr. Pete G. Coser was born to the late George and Stella Coser and raised in Okmulgee, OK. Dr. Coser was married to the late Jo Anna Wade of Antlers, OK; they had three children, Kim Waters, Pete Robert George Coser, and Dr. Ashleigh Coser and eight grandchildren. Dr. Coser is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Dr. Coser received the doctor of education degree in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, received the Outstanding Graduate Student and Dissertation Award from the Office of Minority Affairs, and was a Fellow with the US Office of Education.

While at Oklahoma State University-Stillwater, Dr. Coser founded the American Indian Alumni Association, the Native American Faculty & Staff Association, the Mvskoke Language & Culture Class, the Non-Resident Incentive Tuition Waiver for Native Americans, the Big 12 American Indian Student Leadership Conference, the affinity living Ketchum House, and named an OSU Teaching Legacy by President John R. Campbell. Moreover, served as a delegate from the Tonkawa Nation to the White House Conference on Indian Education in Washington, DC, served as a mentor at the Southern Region Education Board, Doctoral Scholars Conference, in San Diego, CA and New Orleans, LA, and served on the review panel for the Journal of American Indian Education, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ in addition to participation in the American Indian/Alaska Native Professor organization.

At a later date, Dr. Coser served as President of the College of the Muscogee Nation and was named a Living Legend/Muscogee Creek Hall of Fame by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Dr. Coser further served as a Vice-President and Associate Professor with Bacone College in Muskogee, OK.

Elsewhere, Dr. Coser received the Rennard Strickland Education Leadership Award from the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission, was honored at the 2010 AARP Indian Elder Honors in Oklahoma City and was honored by the Tulsa Pow Wow Club as its honoree for 2017. In 2018, Dr. Coser was named to the Oklahoma State University Diversity Hall of Fame.
Dr. Coser retired after serving in education for forty-four years.

Jason Salsman

Jason Salsman is the Press Secretary and Director of Communications at the Muscogee Nation, America’s fourth largest tribe. Under his tenure, the Muscogee Nation has made national and world-wide headlines, with MCN Principal Chief David Hill being recognized as the City of Tulsa’s “Communicator of the Year” in 2022 and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2020. For more than 13 previous years, Salsman was the creator, executive producer and host of “Native News Today” television program. The show, which was an all-Indian news format and the first of its kind, aired weekly on network television and offered a media representation for the proud, rich history of Oklahoma’s 39 federally recognized sovereign Indian nations. Salsman finished his work on the show with over 630 consecutive episodes. He is a 2005 graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication and his work has garnered over 25 Native American Journalists Association Media Awards, and in 2018 was the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists top Editorial and Commentary writer. Salsman has also been recognized with the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s “40 Under 40” Award. In 2016, under his leadership as Director, Mvskoke Media was awarded the Society of Professional Journalists’ top honor, the Carter Bradley Award, making it the first tribal outlet to do so. He is an accomplished musician and songwriter, and the proud father of daughters Peyton and Sophie.

Emmanuel Bezzell

Emmanuel Bezzell was born to Gloria Bezzell and Frank Bezzell of Tulsa, OK. He is the grandson of Jackson Narcomey and Edwina Sue Henry. He is married to Nichole Bezzell and has 4 children, Jordan, Jayden, Jaxon, and Joshua.

Bezzell has over 14 years of experience in the gaming and hospitality industry. As Director of Operations for Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises, Bezzell oversees operations for nine casinos and the travel plaza. Since 2009, he has served in several capacities for the Muscogee Nation, including as Lead Software Compliance Officer, Manager of Higher Education, Director of Gaming, and General Manager of Resort Operations.

Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his skills in team-building, customer service, leadership development and community outreach. In 2015, he was named Employee Donor of the Year by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Scholarship Foundation for his contributions to higher education. In 2017, Global Gaming Business Magazine named him one of their 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders.
Emmanuel received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northeastern State University and a Master of Arts in Administrative Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. He currently serves on the Gaming Advisory Board for the College of the Muscogee Nation and is an Associate for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Scholarship Foundation. He is a proud Muscogee (Creek) citizen and takes pride in being a contributor to the Nation’s success.