Our Team

Our Team

The CRCD is here to serve our students. Our team knows the needs of Alaska’s rural and Native communities and are ready to assist you in meeting your goals.

There are CRCD employees spread across the state ready to work with you, no matter where you are.

Talk to an Advisor
 
 

Leadership

Charlene Stern, Ph.D.

Charlene Stern, Ph.D.

Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education

302 Signers' Hall

For more information about the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education, visit here. 

Jessica C. Black, Ph.D.

Jessica C. Black, Ph.D.

Associate Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education

Associate Professor | Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development

425 Brooks Building

For more information about the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education, visit here. 

Izzy Martinez

Izzy Martinez

Assistant to the Vice Chancellor

Rural, Community and Native Education

305 Signers' Hall

For more information about the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education, visit here. 

Jennifer Adams

Jennifer Adams

Troth Yeddha' Project Manager / RCNE Development Director

Rural, Community and Native Education

For more information about the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education, visit here. 

College of Rural and Community Development

Leadership

Bryan Uher

Bryan Uher

Dean

College of Rural and Community Development

Brooks Building

Lisa Yancey

Lisa Yancey

Academic and Administrative Affairs Manager

College of Rural and Community Development

420 Brooks Building

Anne Doyle

Anne Doyle

Chief Financial Manager

406 Brooks Building

 
 

CRCD Staff

UAF CRCD logo

Esther Berlin

Accounting Technician

eeberlin@alaska.edu | 907-474-6417
Tammi Burns

Tammi Burns

USDA Grant Manager

College of Rural and Community Development

teburns@alaska.edu |  

  • Manage administrative tasks for a grant awarded to CRCD branch campuses from the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH).  The primary goal of the grant is to enhance local food and energy security; Indigenous and subsistence knowledge; and stewardship in rural Alaskan communities.
  • ANNH website

Grace Carroll

Grace Carroll

Fiscal Officer

College of Rural and Community Development

gkcarroll@alaska.edu | 907-474-7881
Scott Culbertson

Scott Culbertson

Course and Enrollment Director

College of Rural and Community Development

srculbertson@alaska.edu | 907-474-1916 / Fax: 907-474-6280
Annastasia Johnson

Jared Jeffrey

Fiscal Officer

College of Rural and Community Development

jdjeffery@alaska.edu | 907-474-6757
Annastasia Johnson

Annastasia Johnson

Administrative Assistant

College of Rural and Community Development

aajohnson15@alaska.edu |  
Sherrie Jones

Sherrie Jones

Rural College Office Coordinator

Alaska Native Language Center  |  Center for Cross Cultural Studies  |  Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Education

sljones19@alaska.edu | 907-474-5808
Kim Kovacik

Kim Kovacik

CRCD Lead Cashier

College of Rural and Community Development

kjkovacik@alaska.edu | 907-474-5380

  • Manages CRCD Accounts Receivable and Cashier Functions
  • Bill and Track Student Third Party Billings
  • Train and Provide Support to the CRCD Cashiers and Accounts Receivable Staff

UAF CRCD logo

Cynthia Martin-Thompson

Registration Specialist

College of Rural and Community Development

cmartinthompson@alaska.edu | 907-474-5397

  • Provides support to staff and students during the course registration process

Kacey Miller

Kacey Miller

Student Services Director

College of Rural and Community Development

klmiller@alaska.edu | 907-443-8451
Suzi Tanski

Suzanne (Suzi) Tanski

Marketing & Communications Manager

College of Rural and Community Development

smtanski@alaska.edu | 907-474-6092

Brooks 419

UAF CRCD logo

Marchelle Somaduroff

Troth Yeddha' Assistant Project Coordinator

College of Rural and Community Development

masomaduroff2@alaska.edu | 907-474-6729

Brooks 416

Chukchi Campus Leadership and Staff

Minnie Naylor

Minnie Naylor

Interim Director

mlnaylor@alaska.edu | 907-442-5051

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. 

 

Annabelle Alvite

Annabelle Alvite

USDA Grant Coordinator

aalvite@alaska.edu | 907-442-5056
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Louise Conwell

Student Services

lsconwell@alaska.edu | 907-442-5053
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Antoinette Edenshaw

Student Advisor

amedenshaw@alaska.edu | 907-442-5052
Ruth Iten

Ruth Iten

Title III Grant Manager

raiten@alaska.edu |  
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Indigo Jicha

Garden Assistant

itjicha@alaska.edu | 907-442-5056
Mae Mendenhall

Mae Mendenhall

Library Director

mgmendenhall@alaska.edu | 907-442-5058
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Angela Nanouk

Program Development Specialist

alnanouk@alaska.edu | 907-442-5059

 

Chukchi Campus Faculty

UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Dr. Wallace Abernathy

Writing Instructor

wgabernathy@alaska.edu |  
Paul Atkins

Paul Atkins

Math Instructor

pdatkins@alaska.edu |  
Clay Beck

Clay Beck

Arctic Skills Instructor

clay.beck.ak@gmail.com |  
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Chloe Belflower

Emergency Medical Services Instructor

Belflower@kotzebue.org |  
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Donald Fancher

Emergency Medical Services Instructor

donald.fancher@maniilaq.org |  
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Clayton Gindt

Education Instructor

cjgindt@alaska.edu |  
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

China Kantner

College Success Skills Instructor

clkantner@alaska.edu |  
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Hannah Loon

Iñupiaq Language Instructor

hbloon@alaska.edu |  
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Reid Magdanz

Inupiaq Language Instructor

reidmagdanz@gmail.com |  
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Dana Orton

Education Instructor

dorton@nwarctic.org |  
UAF Chukchi Campus logo

Mellissia Troyer

Writing Instructor

mmtroyer@alaska.edu |  
 

IAC Staff

Julie Biddle

Julie Biddle

Director

Interior Alaska Campus

jlbiddle@alaska.edu | 907-474-6490

Julie is Gwich’in and Navajo, originally from Canyon Village/Fort Yukon, Alaska and Shiprock, New Mexico. Julie grew up in Fort Yukon, Arkansas, Texas, and Fairbanks. She is tribally enrolled in Canyon Village/Fort Yukon and is an at-large shareholder of the interior regional Native Corporation Doyon, Limited.

Julie previously worked as the communications manager position for the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments (CATG), a consortium of tribes based in the Yukon Flats. She previously managed the Native American Career and Technical Education Program grant for CATG since 2018. Before that, she worked for Doyon, Limited for 20 years.

Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of California Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in capital markets from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.


Toni Abbey

Toni Abbey

Program Administrator

Rural Human Services

tabbey@alaska.edu | 907-474-5503
Robin Brooks

Robin Brooks

Student Success Coordinator

rrbrooks@alaska.edu | 907-474-6770 / 888-474-5207
Michael Hardy

Michael Hardy

Center Coordinator

Fort Yukon Center

mhardy1@alaska.edu | 907-662-2521 / fax 907-662-2657
Eric Hartley

Eric Hartley

Program Coordinator

Content Creation

erhartley@alaska.edu |  

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. 

UAF CRCD IAC logo

Leafy McBride

Title III Program Manager

lmcbride@alaska.edu | 907-474-7887 / 888-474-5207
Chris Miles

Chris Miles

English Tutor

clmiles@alaska.edu | 907-474-2709 / 888-474-5207
UAF CRCD IAC logo

Danielle Ott

Administrative Assistant

Tok Center

daott@alaska.edu | 907-883-5613 / 800-478-2773
Christian Puga

Christian Puga

IT Support & Social Media

cppugateran@alaska.edu | 907-474-5760
UAF CRCD IAC logo

Edward Tinajero

Student Services Manager

egtinajero@alaska.edu | 907-474-5825
Laurie Trotta

Laurie Trotta

Coordinator

Tribal Governance

ltrotta@alaska.edu | 907-474-5826 / 888-474-5207 (Press 2 and then 6)Personal availability link

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.

UAF CRCD IAC logo

Crystal Wilson

Tok Center Coordinator

Tok Center

cdwilson@alaska.edu | 907-883-5613 / 800-478-2773
UAF CRCD IAC logo

Wendy Wood

Fiscal Technician

whwood@alaska.edu | 907-474-7668

IAC Faculty

Michelle Demmert

Michelle Demmert

Assistant Professor

Tribal Governance

mmdemmert@alaska.edu | 206-276-7830
UAF CRCD IAC logo

James (Ryan) Ford

Assistant Professor

Construction Trades Technology

jford23@alaska.edu | 907-474-5958 / 888-474-5207
Robyn Henry

Robyn Henry

Professor

Rural Human Services

rmhenry@alaska.edu | 907-786-1632
Kevin Illingworth

Kevin M. Illingworth, JD

Professor

Tribal Governance

kmillingworth@alaska.edu | 907-474-5710

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.

Katie Lubowicki

Katie Lubowicki

Assistant Professor

English

kmlubowicki@alaska.edu | 907-474-6494 / 888-474-5207
Anshul Pandya

Anshul Pandya

Assistant Professor

Associate of Science Program

apandya@alaska.edu | 907-474-2748 / 888-474-5207
Sally Rafson

Sally Rafson

Writing Instructor

sgrafson@alaska.edu |  
Carrie Stevens

Carrie Stevens

Associate Professor

Tribal Governance

cmstevens@alaska.edu | 907-474-2616 / 866-474-5710

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.

KuC Staff

Carolyn Goolsby

Carolyn Goolsby

Director

Kuskokwim Campus

cegoolsby@alaska.edu |  

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Paul Adams

Head Cook Sackett Hall

pbadams@alaska.edu | 907-543-4591

Sackett Hall

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Cynthia Andrecheck

Writing Center Coordinator

crandrecheck@alaska.edu | 907-543-4573

Room 112

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

John Charlie

Local Area Network (LAN) Manager

jcharlie@alaska.edu | 907-543-4590
CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Dorothy Chase

Financial Aid Coordinator/Academic Advisor

dechase@alaska.edu | 907-543-4563

Room 105E

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Melinda Flemings

Fiscal Technician II

mflemi14@alaska.edu | 907-543-4504

Room 122

DeShan Foret

DeShan Foret

KuC Mental Health Counselor

dforet@alaska.edu | 907-543-4526

Room 114

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Marie Friday

Receptionist/Registration Technician

mefriday@alaska.edu | 907-543-4500
CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Jessica Glore

Student Services Manager

jlglore@alaska.edu | 907-543-4559

Room 105C

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Martha Glore

Office Manager

mmglore@alaska.edu | 907-543-4501

Room 127

Haley Hanson

Haley Hanson

Health Careers Advisor

hhanson9@alaska.edu | 907-543-4587
CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Taylor Hoffman

Sackett Hall Program Manager

thoffma9@alaska.edu | 907-543-4566

Sackett Hall

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Nicholai Joekay

College Success Navigator

mmjoekay@alaska.edu | 907-543-4519
CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

John John

Sackett Hall Resident Director

jjohn15@alaska.edu | 907-543-4566 or cell 907-545-2376

Sackett Hall

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Ron Kaiser

Crafts and Trades III

rjkaiser@alaska.edu | 907-543-4536 or cell: 907-545-4936

Room 150

Mikayla Miller

Mikayla Miller

Youth Services Assistant

msmiller8@alaska.edu | 907-543-4571

Library

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Danny Nelson

Academic Advisor

dnelson7@alaska.edu | 907-543-4505

Room 105D

Cheryl Offt

Cheryl Offt

Academic and Career Advisor

clofft@alaska.edu | 907-543- 7461
Theresa Quiner

Theresa Quiner

Library Director

tquiner@alaska.edu | 907-543-4517

Library

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Katie Rearden

Assistant Director

karearden@alaska.edu | 907-543-4558

Room 129

Daylon Rogers

Daylon Rogers

IT Specialist

drogers15@alaska.edu | 907-543-4507

Room 145

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Marybeth Whalen

Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center Manager

mrwhalen@alaska.edu | 907-543-4538

Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center

 

KuC Faculty

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Kelechuckwu "KC" Alu

Associate Professor of Developmental Math

kalu@alaska.edu | 907-543-4525

Room 116

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Twyla Elhardt

Nursing Clinical Faculty

telhardt@alaska.edu | 907-543-4506

Room 201 YLC

DeShan Foret

DeShan Foret

Assistant Professor

RHS/HUMS AAS Programs

dforet@alaska.edu | 907-543-4526
CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Ryan Henderson

Assistant Professor of English

rlhenderson@alaska.edu | 907-543-4580
Diane McEachern

Diane McEachern

Associate Professor of HUMS/RHS and Coordinator of KuC Behavior Health

dmmceachern@alaska.edu | 907-543-4597

Room 117

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Joli B. Morgan

Professor of Applied Business, Emeritus

jbmorgan@alaska.edu |  

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

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Shawn Russell

Assistant Professor of Allied Health

smrussell@alaska.edu | 907-260-9525

Soldotna

Sally Samson

Sally Samson

Assistant Professor of Yup’ik Language and Culture

spsamson@alaska.edu | 907-543-4530

Room 101

CRCD Kuskokwim Campus logo

Lisa Strecker

Assistant Professor of Anthropology/Ethnobotany

lstrecker@alaska.edu | 907-699-6414

Healy

Jacqueline Tagaban

Jacqueline Tagaban

Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education

jctagaban@alaska.edu | 907-543-4555

Room 113/Juneau

NWC Staff

Barb Amarok

Barb Amarok

Director

bjamarok@alaska.edu | 907-443-8402

Rick Anderson

Rick Anderson

Evening Admin Assistant

randerso@alaska.edu | 907-443-8415
Mitch Erickson

Mitch Erickson

Evening Admin Assistant

merickso@alaska.edu | 907-443-8415
Naomi Jones

Naomi Jones

Program and Outreach Coordinator

nejones2@alaska.edu | 907-624-3157

Based in Unalakleet

Sue Luke

Sue Luke

Business Manager

ssluke@alaska.edu | 907-443-8409
Frank McFarland

Frank McFarland

Facilities Manager

fmcfarl1@alaska.edu | 907-443-8405
Chad Oleson

Chad Oleson

Program Manager

cdoleson@alaska.edu | 907-443-8404
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Sonja Schaeffer

Business/Administrative Coordinator

slschaeffer@alaska.edu | 907-443-8408
CRCD Northwest Campus logo

Bonnie Scheele

HLRM Program Manager

bmscheele@alaska.edu | 907-443-8428
Teresa Trigg

Teresa Trigg

Student Services Technology Specialist

tltrigg@alaska.edu | 907-443-8421
CRCD Northwest Campus logo

Gwendalyn Manniq Trigg-Stettenbenz

Admissions and Records Coordinator

gltriggkomakhuk@alaska.edu | 907-443-8403
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Vacant

Student Services Manager

Apply for this position
CRCD Northwest Campus logo

Vacant

Program Outreach Advisor

Apply for this position
Vacant

Vacant

Program Development Manager

CRCD Northwest Campus logo

Vacant

Employment Development Coordinator

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Vacant

HLRM Assistant

 

NWC Faculty

Ryan Ford

Ryan Ford

Construction Trades Technology Program

jford23@alaska.edu | 907-223-1287Construction Trades Technology program
Jackie Hrabok

Jackie Hrabok

Cooperative Extension and High Latitude Range Management

jhrabok@alaska.edu | 907-434-2906Cooperative Extension Program
Claudia Ihl

Claudia Ihl

Biology

cihl@alaska.edu | 907-443-8406
Miranda Musich

Miranda Musich

Applied Business

mbmusich@alaska.edu | 907-443-8427