Former Newfields CEO Colette Pierce Burnette has been elected to Martin University board

Colette Pierce Burnette, the former CEO and president of Newfields, has been elected to the Board of Trustees at Martin University. The school announced the news — along with the board additions of Brigadier General Felicia Brokaw and Haskell D. “Danny” Portee — in a Jan. 26 news release.

"Each of these individuals fit perfectly into the culture of Martin University," said Martin President Sean L. Huddleston. "They all have a servant leader’s heart and have been very successful in their careers, which serves as an example and role model for our students."

Brokaw, who earned a degree in computer technology and honors as a Martin alum, became the Indiana National Guard's first Black female general and has served for more than three decades in the military. Portee, a U.S. Army veteran, founded the Indianapolis-based Professional Management Enterprises staffing company and is a mentor, speaker and volunteer career counselor.

Burnette's education credentials include president-emeritus of Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, and she has spent her career in fields that include engineering, information technology and public service.

Newfields announced Nov. 10 that Burnette departed her role there after 15 months. Neither she nor the art and nature campus, which is home to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, have commented about the reasons behind the exit or whether she resigned or was terminated.

Since Burnette left Newfields, five members of Newfields' Board of Trustees have resigned. One of them was Huddleston, who had been chair of the museum's Community Advisory Committee.

These board members left Newfields: Here's what they've said about it

"With Dr. Burnette’s untimely departure, I feel that my time now needs to be spent focusing on how Martin (and others who may wish to partner with us) can continue that work and further any progress that has been achieved," he said in a statement after his Nov. 20 exit.

Four members of the Board of Governors have left since Burnette's departure as well.

For her work at Newfields, Burnette received the Breaking Barriers Award from the Indiana Minority Business Magazine’s and Minority Business Review's Champions of Diversity event on Jan. 12.

Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Former Newfields CEO Burnette elected to Martin University board