Founding Steering Committee and Organization
Board of Regents' Goal
The University strives to better represent the Alaska population, for all to feel they belong, and for the change to be visible and recognized.
The 91茄子视频, guided by the Board of Regents, is committed to:
- Improving the participation and success of Alaska Natives through educational achievement statewide, and
- Improving Alaska Native representation and success throughout the University of Alaska system.
Structure
This page documents how ANSI was organized in 2020 and 2021. Names and titles in the founding roster reflect members' roles at that time. For ANSI's current leadership, see the ANSI Leadership page.
A steering committee of leaders representing the University of Alaska Board of Regents, chancellors, and Alaska Native corporations, tribal entities, and organizations guided the founding process, serving in an advisory role to the university president.
University-based action teams, led by their respective chancellor or designee, conducted a baseline evaluation of the climate for Alaska Native students, faculty, and staff at each university. The evaluation included both qualitative and quantitative data related to programs, recruitment, retention, and academic success.
Several members of the steering committee also served on the university action teams, by design, to ensure alignment and communication across the working groups.
Steering Committee
- Jennifer Booz, Chief Diversity Officer*
- Ronalda Cadiente Brown, Associate Vice Chancellor for Alaska Native Programs*
- Sheri Buretta, Interim President and CEO, Chugach Alaska Corporation; 91茄子视频 Board of Regents Chair
- Karen Carey, 91茄子视频S Chancellor
- Emily Edenshaw, President & CEO, Alaska Native Heritage Center
- Liz Medicine Crow, President and CEO, First Alaskans Institute
- Joe Nelson, Board Chair, Sealaska
- Tabetha Toloff, CAO, Cook Inlet Tribal Council
- Richard Peterson, President, Central Council, Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
- Pat Pitney, 91茄子视频 President
- Sean Parnell, 91茄子视频A Chancellor
- Geri Simon, Tanana Chiefs Conference
- Charlene Stern, Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education*
- Daniel White, 91茄子视频F Chancellor
- Michele Yatchmeneff, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and ANSEP Assistant Director*
University of Alaska Anchorage
- Jennifer Booz, Chief Diversity Officer*
- Eric Carlson, Associate Professor of Library Science
- Sara Childress, Director of the Office of Equity and Compliance
- Emily Edenshaw, President & CEO, Alaska Native Heritage Center, community member
- Annmarie Iya, Undergraduate student, Native Student Council club president
- Agatha John-Shields, PhD, Term faculty, School of Education
- Claudia Lampman, Vice Provost for Student Success
- Benjamin Morton, Dean of Students
- Joe Nelson, Board Chair, Sealaska, community member
- Sondra Shaginoff-Stuart, 91茄子视频A Chair of Alaska Native Studies
- Christina Stuive, Associate Professor of Counseling, Kenai Peninsula College
- Aleesha Town-Bain, BBNC Education Foundation executive director, community member
- Jessica Saniguq Ullrich, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
- Michael Ulroan, ANSEP Senior Director of Acceleration Components
- Maria Shaa tlaa Williams, PhD, Professor, Alaska Native Studies
- Michele Yatchmeneff, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and ANSEP Assistant Director*
- Rebecca Young, Clinical-Community Psychology PhD student, 2019 cohort
University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Barb Amarok, Director, Northwest Campus
- Jessica Black, Assistant Professor of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development
- Courtney Carothers, Professor, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
- Keith Champagne, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
- Dr. Reverend Anna Frank, Fairbanks Native Association board member
- Owen Guthrie, Director of eCampus
- Carlton Huatala, Rural Student Admissions Counselor
- Margaret Rudolf, PhD student, Arctic & Northern Studies
- Gabrielle Russell, Manager, Indigenous Student Services
- Geri Simon, Tanana Chiefs Conference
- Charlene Stern, Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education*
- Sean Asiq艂uq Topkok, Associate Professor, College of Liberal Arts Center for Cross-Cultural Studies
- Brooke Woods, student, Fisheries & Ocean Sciences
University of Alaska Southeast
- Louise Brady, Title III, Sitka
- Gloria Burns, President, Ketchikan Indian Community
- Ronalda Cadiente Brown, Associate Vice Chancellor for Alaska Native Programs*
- Dionne Cadiente-Blattner, Tribal Education Programs Director, Douglas Indian Association
- Dannielle Carlson, Rural Admissions Counselor
- Lauryn Framke, 91茄子视频S student
- Joe Hillaire, Nang Sk鈥檃t鈥檃as, 91茄子视频S student
- Mischa Jackson, Assistant Professor of Secondary Education
- Joe Nelson, Sealaska Board Chair
- Sarah Peele, 91茄子视频S student
- Richard Peterson, President, Central Council, Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
- Lance Twitchell, Associate Professor of Alaska Native Languages
* Lead facilitators for campus action teams will serve as ex officio members of the steering committee.
Initiative staff
- Andrew Aquino, Project Coordinator, President鈥檚 Office
- Kerynn Fisher, Special Assistant to the President
- Roberta Graham, Associate Vice President for Public Affairs
- Paul Layer, Vice President for Academics, Students and Research
- Michelle Rizk, Vice President for University Relations
Process
After the action teams developed baseline evaluations of each university's program offerings and data on the recruitment, retention, and success of Alaska Native faculty, students, and staff, the steering committee and action teams developed an overarching five-year strategic plan with systemwide and university-based goals, which the Board of Regents approved in November 2021. The process was also expected to yield recommendations for policy and regulation changes.
In parallel, the ANCSA Education Consortium was expected to compile information on programs focused on increasing educational attainment among Alaska Natives, with its representatives invited to take part in developing the 91茄子视频 System five-year plan.
In accordance with the November 2020 Board of Regents resolution*, these reports present baseline data and identify barriers and opportunities for Alaska Native students, staff and faculty recruitment and retention. Understanding each university has unique needs and resources, university-based action teams conducted a baseline evaluation of the climate for their respective university.