Wilma Mankiller, who was the College's Montgomery Fellow last winter before she was diagnosed with cancer, is recovering from chemotherapy treatments she underwent this summer.
Wilma Mankiller served as the principal chief of the Cherokee nation from 1985 until 1995, when she decided not to seek another term, partially for health reasons. In 1991, she received an honorary degree from Dartmouth.
Last March, during Mankiller's term at the College, she was diagnosed with lymphoma. The diagnosis forced Mankiller to put her plans on hold and leave Dartmouth.
Barbara Gerstner, head of the Montgomery Fellows program, said she spoke with Mankiller two weeks ago.
"The only thing that I can report is that she's home in Oklahoma. She's happy to be home and very optimistic as always," Gerstner said.
"I know that she would love to come back to Dartmouth, but now she is saving her strength," Gerstner said. "She always tries to do so much."
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, which is a part of the immune system. As the cancer progresses, the body is less able to fight infections.
President of the College James Freedman was also diagnosed with lymphoma in April 1994. Freedman had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and was treated successfully with chemotherapy.
Freedman said he spoke to Mankiller a couple of weeks ago and is optimistic about her prognosis.
"She is doing very well," he said. "She is in very high spirits. She's a very indomitable figure."
Freedman also said Mankiller is happy to be at home in Oklahoma and that she is using her time there to relax and recover.
