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There are few college students who can say they left school early to pursue their dreams — and even fewer who can say they performed in the very show that first introduced them to musical theatre.

Aubee Billie ’26 is one who can.

When Billie was 12, she traveled with her father to New York City from Florida to watch her mentor in the Seminole Tribe participate in a reading of “Distant Thunder.” During the trip, she met the show’s director and writer, who told her that maybe one day she could be part of the production.

That visit was Billie’s introduction to musical theatre. Watching the performance, she remembers thinking, “This means I could be on stage. I could be seen as me — as who I am, my culture and my background — in a show.”

Last fall, Billie lived in New York City for a six-week off-Broadway run of “Distant Thunder,” which sold out nearly every performance. The show is one of the first all-Indigenous productions off-Broadway, a milestone Billie was proud to help bring to the stage.

Finding Her Place

Because of her hiatus for the production, Billie will graduate in 2026. The additional time on campus has allowed her to serve as co-president of ���ϲ�����’s Native American Student Association (NASA).

She discovered NASA during her sophomore year thanks to a friend, Sakura Kawakami ’26, who now serves alongside her as co-president. Before joining the organization, Billie didn’t realize there were other Native students at ���ϲ�����. “From then on, I was like, I can tell things to people without explaining my whole self to them,” she said.

Billie said she is proud to help build a space where Indigenous students can feel welcomed and find belonging. Through tabling, community gatherings and cultural programming, Billie said that NASA’s goal is simple: “Create a space where everyone feels welcome, with no judgment as they learn more about their Indigenous roots.”

Billie found support in other corners of campus. As a music theatre major, she immediately felt at home in a program with students from across the country, and she says faculty foster a culture of support and belonging.

“The faculty create that safe space of belonging, where we are supporting and uplifting one another,” she said.

Since arriving at ���ϲ�����, Billie has stayed deeply involved. She is double-majoring in music theatre and arts administration with a minor in . In addition to NASA, she is involved in Dance Works and the Anime and Japanese Studies Club.

Mentorship That Matters

Sometimes a mentor’s impact has nothing to do with how long you’ve known them. For Billie, one such mentor is Corey Roberts, assistant professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies.

Having Roberts as a professor meant more than just having a knowledgeable instructor.

“It was the first time since I was eight or nine that I had a Native teacher,” Billie said. “It was a really big deal because it was somebody I could look up to — somebody I could talk to about certain issues that I know for a fact he has experienced.”

Another influential mentor is Alexandra Warren, assistant professor of performing arts, who helped Billie feel welcomed on campus and opened doors to performance opportunities.

Billie grew up on the Brighton Reservation in Okeechobee, Florida — a close-knit community where everyone knows one another. Transitioning to ���ϲ����� without those familiar connections was difficult. Having professors who truly cared made all the difference.

“They created a safe space for me,” she said of Warren and Roberts.

Proud of where she comes from

Billie is the youngest of ten siblings and the first in her family to attend a four-year institution. “I’m super proud of being here,” she said.

Her father, James Billie, who served as chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida for over two decades, played a significant role in shaping her confidence and pride in her heritage. With his encouragement, she has served as a representative for the tribe since childhood, beginning as Little Miss Seminole at age six. After graduation, she hopes to run for Miss Florida Seminole and return to her community as an ambassador.

For Billie, Native American Heritage Month is about empowering Indigenous people to share their own stories.

“For the longest time in history, we have been beaten down. We have been literally told not to practice our traditions, to not be who we are, to change,” she said. “And for a few years now, we’ve been uplifted — told to be proud of our traditions and who we are. This is a month for us to tell who we are in a truthful manner without anybody getting in the way of that.”

���ϲ����� Honors Native American Heritage Month

As part of Native American Heritage Month, ���ϲ����� is sharing stories that honor the histories, cultures and contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples in the university community. This month recognizes the enduring strength, traditions and knowledge of Indigenous communities, while highlighting the ways these legacies continue to shape and enrich our shared experience. It is a time to celebrate Native and Indigenous heritage, but also an invitation for all members of the university community to learn, reflect and engage in meaningful ways that honor these vibrant cultures and their lasting impact.