MRS. TINA MERDANIAN
Director of Public Relations

Mrs. Tina Merdanian was born in Pine Ridge , SD and is a graduate of Red Cloud. She attended Creighton University and Black Hills State University , graduating from Oglala Lakota College with a degree in Business Administration with an Associate's Degree in Accounting. She was hired in 1997 by Fr. Bill McKenney, S.J. as an Administrative Assistant in the Development Office. Several short months later, she was named the Director of the Public Relations Department. Tina brings to her office her creativity and knowledge of the use of technology. Tina is responsible for communicating the Red Cloud story through many mediums. She handles all questions about visiting Red Cloud, arranges tours for our visitors, and she is responsible for all advertising and press releases. Tina is instrumental in the planning of the Red Cloud County , our quarterly newsletter as well as our annual calendar. Tina works closely with the South Dakota Division of Tourism and the local Chambers of Commerce to increase visitation to the Reservation and to help visitors to gain a sense of the rich Lakota heritage. She is also very interested in economic development on the Reservation. Tina is married to Russell Merdanian, who is also a Red Cloud graduate, and the mother of two young children. Her oldest is a student at Red Cloud and represents the third and fourth generations on each side of her family attending school at Red Cloud.