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Sharon Norris Member Sharon Norris is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Nation. She graduated from South High School in Minneapolis and went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Metropolitan University. Sharon is a professional business person with over 20 years of human resource experience in corporate America. She has worked for American Express and Ameriprise for over twelve years. Sharon was also the Chairperson of the Native American Tribal Indigenous Organizational Network (NATION) for over 10 years. Currently, she is the Human Resources Director for our Red Lake Tribe. In her spare time, Sharon loves to cook southern home style food and is an avid Vikings fan.

Dr. Carla Norris-Raynbird, Ph.D. Academic Advisor & Adjunct Instructor Dr. Norris-Raynbird is a retired environmental sociologist, with specialties in disaster management, gender, and social organization. She received her Master of Science (2000) and PhD degrees (2006) from Texas A&M University, College Station, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Hazards Management and Planning. Her research experiences have produced several publications and focus on human dimensions issues in the Gulf of Mexico fisheries; gulf coast impacts of outer continental shelf oil leases; the use of science in climate change decision making; food security in vulnerable communities; and local coastal zone management capacity in Louisiana. Recent publications focus on gender studies in the US and the use of experiential and service learning pedagogies. Dr. Norris-Raynbird uses an interactive community building approach in teaching. In her spare time, she enjoys walking in the woods, her dogs and cats, canoeing, music and theater performance.

Jasmine Gonzalez, B.A. Assistant Grant Writer Jasmine Gonzalez is a 2017 graduate from the Red Lake Nation College. She went on to get her B.A. from Augsburg University in English and American Indian Studies. Now that she has received her degree, she is interested in pursuing grant writing. She is currently employed as the assistant grant writer for the Red Lake Nation College since July 2020.

Dan King, M.B.A., M.P.A President/CEO Dan King is the President of the Red Lake Nation College. He is a Red Lake Tribal Member who is also one of seven Hereditary Chiefs of the Red Lake Nation. Dan is a sixth generation, direct line descendent, and the great-great-great Grandson, of the legendary Red Lake Hereditary Head Chief, Medweganoonind. He graduated from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. While at Harvard, he focused his efforts on the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, which focuses on Nation Building for Indigenous Peoples around the world. Dan also has a BA degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas and an M.B.A degree as well. Dan has committed most of his 35 year professional business career to working in economic development and casino management for Indian Tribes. He also has worked in Indian Education as a former Red Lake School Board Member and as a former higher education administrator. As a former Tribal Treasurer at Red Lake, Dan helped develop the Red Lake Casinos into the modern Seven Clans Casinos’ facilities and brand names that the entire Tribe is proud of and that have become very successful through the hard work of Seven Clans employees. Under Dan’s leadership, Red Lake Nation College (RLNC) is focusing on making RLNC a financially sustainable, long-term, ongoing entity that is the heart of the Red Lake community for seven generations. With Dan as the President, RLNC is making fast progress and more improvements to its academic programs, language and cultural offerings and student service support programs.

Dr. Bonnie Ekstrom, Ph.D. Director of Counseling and Extension Services ​ Bonnie Ekstrom earned an A.A. degree from Mesabi Community College, a B.S. in Psychology from Bemidji State University and her Masters and PhD at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL. She is a life-long educator who understands the importance of our Community Colleges. She taught classes for Shawnee Community College in Southern Illinois and as a Graduate Assistant at Southern Illinois University. She was an Assistant Professor in the psychology department for the University of Minnesota-Morris and Bemidji State University. She has been teaching online psychology courses for the University of Minnesota-Crookston since 2010. Her therapy career choices have taken her into the Illinois Department of Corrections, where she provided mental health services in a Super-Maximum Security facility. She has experience working in a Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, a Secured Inpatient Hospital and as an Intern at the St. Louis Veteran’s Administration Medical Center. She most recently worked for Sanford Behavioral Health in the Outpatient Sex Offender Treatment Program and the Outpatient Mental Health Program as a Therapist. She and her two children are members of the Red Lake Nation.

Tammi Jalowiec, B.A. Communications and Public Relations Coordinator & Interim Library Direcctor Tammi Jalowiec earned her BA in Journalism/Advertising from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and studied Library and Information Science through the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She spent the last decade as a librarian in both public and academic libraries. Prior to being a librarian, Tammi worked in sales, marketing, and public relations in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. As Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, she is responsible for internal and external communications for the College.

Linda Bedeau, M.B.A. Adjunct Instructor Linda Bedeau earned her M.B.A. in Health Care Administration from the University of Mary, her B.S. in Health/Physical Education with a minor in Accounting from the University of Minnesota, and her A.A. in Health and Business Education from Bemidji State University. Linda is a member of Red Lake Band of Chippewa. She serviced six years in the Naval Reserve and one year in the National Guard. Linda is currently employed as the Administrative Officer for the Department of Health and Humans Services - Indian Health Services - Red Lake Hospital. She has also worked as a Health Systems Specialist for the Indian Health Service specializing in Self-Governance and 638 Contract negotiations and administration.

Krystal Jourdain, B.S. Financial Aid Specialist Krystal is an enrolled member of Red Lake who was born and raised in Red Lake. She graduated from Red Lake High School in 2010 as class Valedictorian. She worked at Red Lake Gaming and was promoted to Guest Service Supervisor. In 2013, she returned to Red Lake Nation College (RLNC) where she participated in the women’s basketball team. Krystal graduated from Leech Lake Tribal College/Red Lake Nation Campus in 2015 and took a year off before enrolling at Bemidji State University (BSU). In May 2018, she graduated with a B.S. in psychology. She eventually wants to complete a Master’s degree. Krystal has been been employed with RLNC since January 2018, first as a Student Success Counselor, and now as the Financial Aid Specialist.

Nadine Bill, B.S. Director of Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness ​ Nadine Bill is a higher education professional with over twenty years’ experience in leadership positions. ​ Nadine has extensive experience in admissions and student services at the University of Washington. She has served as a development and community outreach director at Green River Community College. In 2005 Nadine was honored with a prestigious fellowship in Higher Education at Harvard University. During her time at Harvard, Nadine focused on student services research and worked on an inter-faculty initiative at the Kennedy School of Government. ​ Nadine is a published author who led the primary research in 2009 funded by the Gates Foundation on “Native Pathways: A Study of Colleges and Universities Best Practices for Native American Students in Washington State”. For the last 10 years she has served in the Tribal College system as a Dean of Students and Institutional Research. ​ Nadine Bill, is a member of the Upper Skagit Tribe of Washington State and descendent of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Washington University, graduate work in higher education, and graduate fellowship from Harvard University.

Dr. Dan Ninham Adjunct Instructor Dan Ninham is Wolf Clan from the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin. He recently retired as a thirty-eight year middle school physical education teacher, has devoted his career to Indian Education and has worked at Wingate High School (New Mexico), Oneida Tribal School (Wisconsin) and Bemidji Middle School (Minnesota). In December of 2009, Dan earned a PhD in Physical Education with an emphasis in Sport Pedagogy at the University of Northern Colorado. He and his wife Susan, Red Lake Nation, were the first husband and wife to receive a Bush Fellowship at the same time in 2000-02. Dan is a first year adjunct instructor at Red Lake Nation College and teaching the PHED 1100 course Anishinaabe Fitness and Nutrition. In 2019, Dan was also an adjunct professor at Winona State University in collaboration with the Fond Du Lac Ojibwe Tribal and Community College. Dan and Susan are proud parents of their children Byron (Amy), Lydia (Terrance) and Simone, and grandparents of Ari, Saniya, Adeline, Miles and Nagweyaab.

Dr. Jim Abbott, PhD Adjunct Instructor Dr. Abbott completed his doctoral degree in communication at the University of North Dakota. He has taught a variety of communication courses, including public speaking, interpersonal communications, and health communications at the University of Minnesota in Rochester and the University of North Dakota. Dr. Abbott worked as the Executive Director of the North Dakota CPA Society and Board of Accounting through 2018. He currently volunteers with the SCORE business mentoring program.

Tami Nendick, M.S. Science Instructor ​ Tami earned her B.S. in Education and her M.S. in Science Education from Bemidji State University. She has also completed graduate coursework at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Tami has more than 20 years of work experience at both the post-secondary and secondary levels. She has extensive teaching experience in the areas of biology, anatomy and physiology, and environmental science.