Dr. Laurel Vermillion, President
Dr. Laurel Vermillion, a recognized member of the Hunkpapa-Lakota peoples of the Standing Rock Reservation, serves as president of Sitting Bull College. She is married to husband Duane and together they have three children and four grandchildren. Dr. Vermillion is an alumnus of Sitting Bull College (SBC). She began her higher education at SBC when it was known as Standing Rock Community College (SRCC). She received her baccalaureate degree in Elementary Education through an articulation agreement between Standing Rock Community College and the University of North Dakota in 1980. During her 14 years as an elementary teacher for the Fort Yates, ND BIA school, she pursued and completed a Masters degree in Education Administration from the University of North Dakota. Soon after, she relocated to Marty, SD and served as Principal at the Marty Indian School before moving back to the Standing Rock Reservation. In 1995, she accepted the position of vice president of Academic Affairs at Sitting Bull College and eventually became vice president of Operations in 1999. During her seven years as vice president of Operations at Sitting Bull College she completed a doctorate degree in Teaching and Learning, Higher Education from the University of North Dakota. She is an active board member for numerous non-profit and community service groups, including Bear Soldier Horizons, the Standing Rock Education Consortium, Standing Rock Education Leaders, the North Dakota Association of Tribal Colleges (NDATC), Recruiting American Indian Nurses (RAIN) program, Quality Education for Minorities (QEM), American Indian College Fund (A*CF), and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC).
Contact Info:
Phone: (701) 854-8014
Fax: (701) 854-2013
Email: laurelv@sbci.edu
Dr. Koreen Ressler, VP of Academics
Ph.D, Capella University
M.M., University of Mary
B.S., Moorhead State University
Koreen Ressler is currently the Vice President of Academics at Sitting Bull College. She began her employment with Sitting Bull College in January of 1996 as Vocational Director. Prior to that she was employed with Fort Berthold Community College, New Town, North Dakota from 1982 to 1995. During her employment at Fort Berthold she served as the Business Faculty and for the last four years as Acting Academic Dean.
During her employment with the Tribal Colleges she has served as chairperson and member of various committees. These include curriculum development, student life, faculty development, assessment, finance, facilities, and HLC/NCA Steering Committee. She has served as the HLC/NCA Self-Study Coordinator and participates in the North Dakota Tribal College Deans Association. She is a certified Vocational Education Instructor/Administrator in the State of North Dakota. Ressler has also served on the North Dakota Tech-Prep Council, State Vocational Education Curriculum Committee and panel for evaluation process of Vocational Programs for the State of North Dakota. In additions, Ressler has oversight for various grants including Department of Education Title III and Native American Career and Technical Education.
She participated in the North Dakota Bush Fulbright Faculty Exchange Program in the summer of 1990. Also, in 1992-93 she was named the first time Fort Berthold Community College recipient of the Golden Apple award for Outstanding Teacher of the Year.
Contact Info:
Phone: (701) 854-8001
Fax: (701) 854-8197
Email: koreenr@sbci.edu
Leonica Alkire, VP of Finance
M.M., University of Mary
B.S., University of Mary
A.A., Sitting Bull College
Leonica has been employed at Sitting Bull College for 16 years as of February, 2009, the last four years as Vice President of Finance. Leonica also served on the Board of Trustees from 1995 until she returned to Sitting Bull College as Comptroller in February, 2000. During her time on the Board of Trustees, it became a vision of the board and then President McNeil to build a new campus. That vision is nearing completion and Leonica hopes to see it completed before she retires.
Leonica is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She has worked in state, federal and tribal positions for most of her career and has also been involved in her local district as treasurer for several years. She has three grown sons and a daughter whom she is proud of and six grandchildren who bring her joy.
Contact Info:
Phone: (701) 854-8005
Fax: (701) 854-2345
Email: leonicaa@sbci.edu
