Patricia Ninham Hoeft is a citizen of the Oneida Nation. She served three consecutive terms as the Oneida Nation Secretary, having been first elected in 2005. The Tribal Secretary Office is responsible for many of the Business Committee’s legislative processes, research and administrative services. Hoeft is currently a law student at Michigan State University.

As a teenager, Hoeft worked at Oneida. She later worked as a reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1988 to 1992. From 1992-2002, Hoeft held various positions with the Oneida Tribe including assistant to Chairman Rick Hill, Vice Chairwoman Loretta V. Metoxen, and Vice Chairman Gary Jordan. While at Oneida, Patricia also served as the land claims coordinator, manager of the Legislative Reference Office, and was appointed to the tribe’s Gaming Commission. In 2003, she was appointed by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle to serve as a division administrator at the state Department of Regulation and Licensing.

Hoeft graduated from St. Norbert College in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She has served as a grassroots organizer for several local political campaigns and served on the board for the Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay.