The New President of Leech Lake Tribal College in Cass Lake, Minnesota

The board of trustees of the Leech Lake Tribal College in Cass Lake, Minnesota, has named Helen Zaikina-Montgomery as president of the college.

Leech Lake Tribal College enrolls just over 130 students, according to the latest statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Education. American Indians are more than 80 percent of the students. Women make up 59 percent of the student body.

Dr. Zaikina-Montgomery came to the college in 2019 as the director of assessment and institutional research. She was appointed interim president in May 2021. She previously taught at Grand Canyon University and Nevada State College.

President Zaikina-Montgomery said, “I am honored to have been selected to serve in the role of president at the Leech Lake Tribal College. In my time here as director of assessment for two years and interim president over the past year, I learned that this college is an innovative, pioneering, and spiritual institution deeply grounded in Anishinaabe values. We have the best students and tremendously talented faculty and staff. I am fortunate to be a part of the LLTC family. I am looking forward to continuing to nurture the growth of this institution for our students, staff, faculty, and most importantly, this community.”

Dr. Zaikina-Montgomery is a graduate of California State University, San Marcos, where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.