Navajo Nation mourns passing of tribal college leader Charles ‘Monty’ Roessel

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Charles “Monty” Roessel. Photo courtesy Diné College

Monday, January 6, 2025

Indianz.Com

The Navajo Nation is mourning the loss of Dr. Charles “Monty” Roessel, who was the leader of Diné College, a tribal university on the largest reservation in the United States.

Roessel passed away early Monday morning after a long illness, according to Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren. He was surrounded by family while in hospice care in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the tribal president said.

“Despite his illness, Dr. Roessel continued to valiantly lead Diné College, where he was the beloved 18th president since 2017,” Nygren said in a post on social media. “He followed in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Robert Roessel, the college’s first president from 1968 to 1969.”

Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley relayed the condolences of the tribe’s legislative body. She credited Roessel, who was 63 years old, for leading Diné College, headquartered in Tsaile, Arizona, during a period of significant change.

“Dr. Roessel was a tireless advocate for tribal education and a visionary leader whose work transformed Diné College from a two-year institution to a four-year university,” Curley said in a news release. “His leadership and dedication were pivotal in shaping educational opportunities for Navajo students, and his efforts have left an indelible mark on the future of our people.”

Diné College announced Roessel’s passing on Monday morning. The institution, which operates campuses and microsites in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, has enacted a soft closure as the community mourns the loss of the president.

“Dr. Roessel’s leadership was transformative. He elevated opportunities for Diné College students while creating pathways that connected education to the broader goals of the Navajo Nation,” said Theresa Hatathlie, the chair of the Diné College Board of Regents. “He left an indelible impact on our institution and on tribal colleges across the country.”

Before joining Diné College, Roessel served as director of the Bureau of Indian Education, a federal agency. He left following an investigation into alleged misconduct involving a lower-level employee and a family relative.