Minnie Naylor is originally from Kotzebue and has family from Noatak and Shishmaref. Minnie graduated from UAF in 2008 with a BA in Rural Development with an emphasis in Community Organizations and Services. In 2022, she earned her MA in Rural Development from the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development. 

Eric attended UAF graduating with both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in business. Born and raised in Fairbanks, Eric grew up in and around UAF. Attending the visual art academy on campus as a youth sparked his interest in various art forms and his interest in building a business around them. 

Laurie is the "point of contact" for the Tribal Governance Department. She will be advising any students taking courses in TG and the primary advisor for those working toward a TG certificate or degree. She will support them with everything from FAFSA and registration to preparing for graduation and a career. She supports TG faculty with course materials, events, communications, and a number of other things.

Prior to her position as Coordinator of the Tribal Governance Department, Trotta spent the last six years working as Coordinator with the Migrant Education Program which supports students and their families living a subsistence lifestyle, fishing, and berry picking. Trotta has dedicated her career to education helping students reach their highest potential by finding the path that best suits them and to the sustainability of the natural environment.

Trotta started her career as a fish biologist, aquaculturist, and aquatic ecologist before moving on to teach a variety of aquaculture, aquatic science, and renewable resource courses. She also advised an Outdoor Recreation Club for 12 years in which the students did everything from backpacking in the Adirondack Mountains to hiking in Denali National Park to surfing in Costa Rica.  

After 22 years of university service at New York State Agriculture and Technology colleges, Trotta moved to Fairbanks, a longtime second home that is now her primary home. She has served on the Board of the Friends of Creamer's Field from 2015 to 2021. In her spare time, she likes to spend time out of doors with her dogs, hiking, paddling, fishing, and berry picking. Indoors, she enjoys cooking, consulting on Epicure, doing yarn crafts, drawing Zentangles, or reading.

Kevin Illingworth is a Professor of Tribal Government with the Department of Tribal Governance at UAF. Kevin was raised in Alaska’s Interior and graduated from North Pole High School and the University of Alaska Fairbanks before receiving his Law Degree from the University of Idaho. Prior to joining the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2002, Kevin worked for Mentasta Traditional Council and Cheesh’na Tribal Council on the development of tribal laws, tribal courts, and tribal law enforcement. 

At UAF, Kevin primarily teaches courses in topics such as Tribal Government, Federal Indian Law, Tribal Constitutions and Codes, ICWA, and Child Protection and Tribal Justice issues. He has extensive experience in curriculum development, assessment, and instructional technology, primarily focused on adult Indigenous student education, with a strong commitment to place-based education. Professor Illingworth has presented at numerous Conferences and Symposiums and has previously served as Interim Dean, Department Chair, and on many Advisory Boards and Councils.

Carrie Stevens’ passionately works for the advancement of Indigenous self-governance and stewardship. She serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Tribal Governance at the College of Rural and Community Development, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Stevens has 22 years of experience in designing and delivering place-based educational programs to advance Indigenous self-governance, tribal sovereignty, and stewardship through partnerships with tribal governments, communities, and peoples. Carrie serves as the PI of the USDA funded Alaska Native Food and Energy Sovereignty award for the College of Rural and Community Development, a collaboration enhancing educational equity to build Indigenous leadership for community food and energy security.

Stevens served as lead negotiator for tribal self-governance negotiations between the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments and the USFWS and the BLM. She is active in advocacy and organizing efforts for the protection of Alaska Native hunting and fishing rights and traditional ways of life. She holds a Master of International and Intercultural Management.

She is married to Ben Stevens, Dinyee Hutanne, Koyukon Athabascan from Stevens Village Alaska, with whom she raises her son Alexander. They enjoy being on the river and in the village when they are not at their desks working on behalf of Alaska Natives.

Morgan, Joli B., Professor of Applied Business, Emeritus. Excelsior College ’81, BS; Clarkson University ’82, MBA. (1976-1997).