AIPHRC Public Health Education Project Manager 
Email: Mikalen.Belgarde@ndsu.edu  

Mikalen Belgarde is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and he serves as the Public Health Education Project Manager.  

Mikalen grew up on the TMBCI reservation and moved to Fargo, ND to pursue a college degree after he was given the opportunity to attend the following NDSU academic summer programs: Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research and Education (NATURE), Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), Pre-Engineering Education Collaboration: Pipeline for Tribal Pre-Engineering to Society programs. Mikalen brings his expertise to the project as a former student and mentor from the similar NDSU academic programs created for Indigenous students to pursue careers in the STEM field. Mikalen would like to credit these programs for gifting him the opportunity to grow and learn about his career interests, if it wasn’t for these programs supporting and believing in him as a student, he wouldn’t have been able to navigate his educational journey to where he is today. By May of 2022, he successfully obtained a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Health at NDSU. Currently, he is continuing his education at the University of North Dakota’s Indigenous Health Ph.D. program with an anticipated graduation date in May 2025. 

When he is not studying, Mikalen enjoys spending time with his family and friends. Mikalen has four nephews that he adores, and he remains mindful that they are always watching and learning from his footsteps. He also loves to hunt and fish to carry on his late father’s traditions. He is always determined to involve his family in his education and health equity initiatives to share their knowledge and cultural teachings.

Mikalen will be assisting in creating connections and building current partnerships with the tribal communities, tribal colleges, tribal universities, Indigenous Food Sovereignty organizations, NDSU Faculty, and future partners. He will also help with coordinating project activities such as outreach and recruitment, project planning, and incorporating cultural and historical context throughout the project.