Florence Garcia

Florence Garcia (Dakota-Nakoda) has served in multiple leadership roles at Montana State University institutions and at a tribal college.  Garcia is the associate dean of City College of MSU-Billings where she is responsible for all academic programs.  At MSU-Bozeman, Garcia served as TRIO director, a Council of Elders member, adjunct faculty in several departments and an alumni board member.  Garcia has held multiple administrative and academic positions, culminating in her becoming the first woman president at Fort Peck Community College. Subsequently, she attended the 2012 HERS Summit for Women Presidents and Chancellors and was then instrumental in forming the Montana Tribal College Presidents Association. Garcia is an advocate for inclusivity at all institutions; she nominates and encourages underrepresented students to apply for awards, scholarships, internships, honors and employment. She works to increase student retention and graduation through cultivating a sense of belonging. Garcia fosters cross-cultural understanding by taking non-Native faculty to tribal colleges to deepen their knowledge of Native culture and education, then teaches them how to integrate this knowledge into courses. Garcia gave the keynote address at the 2018 MSU Native alumni breakfast and inspired a broad audience to continue to grow in understanding.

Florence Garcia has served in leadership roles at mainstream universities and tribal colleges. At each one, she was an advocate for inclusivity, cross-cultural understanding and cultivating a sense of belonging.