ANEP educators serve their communities on a part-time basis by delivering basic nutrition and food-budgeting programs targeted to low-income populations. They coordinate with State and local partners, such as State public health departments, food banks, tribal programs, local health organizations, and non-profit organizations.

Note: Educators do not work in the capacity of a Registered Dietitian or medical professional. They are unable to provide health advice for individuals needing nutritional therapy. Health concerns and questions should be referred to the client’s health provider.

Anchorage Area

907-786-6329

907-786-6312 FAX

Extension Anchorage District Office
1675 C St, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99501

Bethel Area, Yukon-Kuskokwim District

lkwalsh@alaska.edu

907-543-4564

907-543-4552 FAX

Extension Yukon-Kuskokwim District Office
PO Box 368, Kuskokwim Campus
Bethel, AK 99559

Leah Walsh has called Bethel her home for the last 4 years after moving north from busy California. In her role as Nutrition Educator and Admin Assistant in the Bethel Cooperative Extension office, Leah can be commonly be found at the Bethel Community Garden, teaching nutrition lessons at various location around town or talking about food/recipes with people in the grocery store aisles. Grateful to have a job that links education and food with improving ones quality of life, Leah is always looking for new ways to connect in her community. Outside of work, Leah's hobbies include: dog mushing, kayaking, 'being' outside, developing her meditation practice, listening to stories, chilling with her dog, reading, and occasionally finding a moment to paint.

Fairbanks Area (Interior Alaska)

907-474-5414

907-474-6885 FAX

Extension Tanana District Office
724 27th Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99701

Juneau Area (Southeast Alaska)

907-796-6221

907-796-6301 FAX

Extension Juneau District Office
1108 F St., Suite 213
Juneau, AK 99801-1844

Kenai Peninsula Area

907-262-5824

907-262-3939 FAX

Extension Kenai Peninsula District Office
43961 K-Beach Rd, Suite A
Soldotna, AK 99669-9728

Palmer Area, Mat-Su/Copper River District

wjbenson@alaska.edu

907-745-3423

907-745-5479 FAX

Extension Mat-Su/Copper River District Office
809 Chugach St, Suite 2
Palmer, AK 99645

Winona Benson has worked as a Nutrition Educator in Palmer since December 2009. She enjoys the diversity of people she has the privilege of working with while teaching healthy lifestyle skills. She can often be found teaching healthy cooking lessons, teaching school-age children nutrition lessons and 'sharing the tools of the trade' on how to save money while eating well. Winona enjoys her job and the chance to bring such an important message to her community!

State Program Coordinator

haidzorek@alaska.edu

907-474-7930

907-474-5139 FAX

Extension State Office
308 Tanana Loop
PO Box 756180
Fairbanks, AK 99775-6180

Helen Idzorek began with Cooperative Extension in 2005 as a Nutrition Educator in Juneau and later transferred to the Tanana District office in Fairbanks. Currently she coordinates ANEP statewide. Her background is in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on food security and hunger. She says, “Coordinating ANEP allows me to see the real difference our Nutrition Educators make across the state in the lives of Alaskans.” In addition to her work with CES, she is pursuing her doctorate on the subject of coping strategies of food-insecure households in Fairbanks. In her spare time she enjoys canoeing, cross-country skiing, cooking, gardening and exploring Alaska.