Theresa Halvorson-Lee was appointed to the position of Director of the Department of Indian Work (DIW) in November 2024. Previously she served as Emergency Services Manager after joining Interfaith Action full time in May 2020.

As Director of DIW, Theresa oversees four programs dedicated to supporting the Indigenous community. She loves her work because it allows her to make a real difference in people’s lives. She finds it incredibly fulfilling to support her community and see the positive outcomes of the work.

Prior to joining Interfaith Action, Theresa gained over 20 years of service, training, and management experience working with companies like Fraser, Bremer Bank, MTM and USPS.

Theresa is a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux tribe of South Dakota and was born and raised on the East Side of Saint Paul. Theresa enjoys writing poetry and books, learning new things, and anything in nature. She is married and, together with her spouse, has nine children and fifteen grandchildren.