Catherine N. Montoya

Dr. Catherine N. Montoya is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from a canyon near Lupton, AZ. Dr. Montoya is an Assistant Professor in Native American Studies in the Borderlands and Ethnic Studies Department in the Health, Education, and Social Transformation College at New Mexico State University. Prior to her role as a professor, Dr. Montoya has worked in higher education primarily in student services, especially in supporting Native college student success, since 2004. Dr. Montoya earned a Doctor in Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and was the first graduate of the inaugural Native American Leadership in Education (NALE) cohort at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Dr. Montoya also has a MPA in Human Resources Management from UNM and a BA in Native American Studies from Dartmouth. Dr. Montoya's research focuses on K'é (relationality), Native American leadership, Native American higher education professional networks and community, Native American college student success and retention, and utilizing Indigenous methodologies.