Tesia Zientek

Tesia Zientek (Citizen Potawatomi Nation) is a Native community builder with over a decade of experience advancing Indigenous education, tribal capacity building, and workforce development. She has led the creation of tribal education systems, developed nationally recognized leadership programs, and managed multi-million-dollar grants supporting Indigenous learners. Tesia currently serves as Managing Director of Programs at AISES, overseeing national STEM initiatives and cross-sector partnerships. Her leadership extends across Indian Country through board service with the National Indian Education Association, Tribal Education Departments National Assembly, and the Oklahoma Council for Indian Education. She is also the Lead of the AUNTIE Tech Collective, where she brings technical expertise and cultural leadership, grounding the work in Indigenous knowledge and values.