Gabrielle has been working with UAF for the last 20 years and as an Advisor with RSS for 10. She is happy that longtime friend and mentor Sue McHenry encouraged her to apply at RSS and has found it to be her perfect niche. Gabrielle came to UAF as a freshman by way of Upstate NY and used to tag-along with her friends who had advisors at RSS. She earned a BA in History, minoring in French, and a M.Ed. with a license in Community Counseling. She loves river travel, meeting new people, speaking French and creating art with her daughter. Most importantly, she enjoys problem solving and helping others, skills that have hopefully assisted the students she has come to know over her years at UAF.

Taniesha Moses has joined Rural Student Services as an Indigenous wellness outreach coordinator. Moses is Upper Tanana Athabascan and was raised in Northway, Alaska. She is the daughter of Sharon Emry, and her grandparents are Rosa and Dale Brewer. She has three children, Avery, August and Aspen, in Fairbanks, where she currently resides with her husband, Conrad Moses.

“Seven years ago when I decided to go back to school, Rural Student Services provided vital support to me in various ways as I experienced obstacles in my educational journey,” Moses said. “I am excited to be in a role where I can now return that support to other students by encouraging wellness from an indigenous perspective as they pursue their academic dreams.”

In her free time, Moses enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids, creative projects, hiking, and listening to podcasts.

Timotheen Ayik' Charles (she/her/hers) is originally from Kasigluk. She graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in Alaska Native Studies with a concentration in Traditional Knowledge, Cultural Resources, and Expression and a minor in Yup'ik. Her goal as a professional has and will always be to help others strive for greatness in anything they do--especially for and with Rural Alaskans. Her passions and values align and are tried to live by the Yup'ik worldview and western modernism. Her interests include culture, language, traditions, suicide prevention, DEI, and working for and with people. Her motto this season is "Going with the flow; you're where you are, what you're doing when you need to be." She is excited to be here working and learning with you all.

Hello! My name is Shaelene, and I come from Naknek, AK. I grew up commercial fishing and the last couple of years I have been focusing more on subsistence and gathering. I graduated from UAF in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Rural Development focusing on Community Health and Wellness. I enjoy hiking, biking, and camping outdoors when I can with my three dogs and partner. I have a background in advocating for gender justice, environmental justice, and protecting Alaska Native ways of life. I am so excited to be working with students and supporting them in their college experience. 

Carlton grew up on the Kuskokwim River in the village of Kwethluk. He attended Mt. Edgecumbe for the second half of his high school career. He graduated from UAF with a BS in Fisheries. His favorite hobbies are hunting, trapping, and fishing with family and friends.

Amy grew up in Vermont but has been living in Fairbanks for more than 20 years. She earned undergraduate degrees in Comparative Cultures and Environmental Science, which reflect her love of both people and places. More recently, she earned a MFA from UAF in Creative Writing. She worked as a fisheries technician for many years, during which she was lucky enough to travel across much of Alaska and visit many villages. She loves being outside (especially berry picking), gardening, and traveling.

Minnie is originally from Kotzebue and has family from Noatak and Shishmaref. Minnie graduated from UAF in 2008 and was involved with RSS. Her BA degree was in Rural Development with an emphasis in Community Organizations and Services. In 2022, she earned her Masters Degree in Rural Development.

An alumna of the Rural Alaska Honors Institute and Dot Lake High School, Fitzgerald earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences at UAF and most recently graduated from the Doyon Leadership Training program.

Fitzgerald has worked the last 15 years in the Office of Human Resources, Biology and Wildlife Department, College of Natural Science and Mathematics Division of Research, and most recently in the Signers' Business Office. Before UAF, she worked for Tanana Chiefs Conference for seven years.

She enjoys outdoor activities such as: hiking, skiing, floating and boating. She also enjoys traditional activities: picking berries and wild rhubarb, fishing, hunting, beading, singing Athabascan songs and attending potlatches.