Krista Bjella brings a unique blend of education, counseling, and marketing experience to her role as Executive Director of the Pride in the Tiger Foundation. A proud graduate of Southwest State University (now SMSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Krista also holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of North Dakota.

Krista and her husband, Brian, have called Marshall home for over 30 years. Deeply rooted in the community, they value the strong partnerships and generous spirit that make Marshall such a vibrant place to live and raise a family. Their daughters, Aubrey—a Clinical Lab Scientist at Abbott Northwestern Hospital—and Morgan—a student-athlete at Minnesota State University, Mankato—are proud products of Marshall’s excellent academic and extracurricular programs.

Before joining the Foundation in 2021, Krista spent a decade with Marshall Public Schools as a teacher and school counselor. She also brings prior leadership experience from the corporate sector, having served as Director of Marketing at U.S. Bank Office Equipment Finance and Grandview Financial.

“Serving with the Pride in the Tiger Foundation allows me to merge my professional background with a personal passion for education,” Krista says. “As both an educator and a parent, I’ve seen firsthand the powerful impact of teacher grants and student scholarships. I’m honored to help carry forward the Foundation’s mission of supporting educational excellence and opportunity for all students in our community.”