About Us
The Alaska Center Education Fund is dedicated to Educating, Empowering, and Engaging all Alaskans for a brighter future in our state.
Meet Our Staff
Meet our team of passionate staff who stay busy year-round to advance our mission. With diverse talents, experiences, and deep connections to Alaska’s communities, we work together to build a thriving, just, and sustainable Alaska for future generations.
Chantal de Alcuaz
Co-Executive Director
AK Center Education FundAs Co-Executive Director of The Alaska Center and The Alaska Center Education Fund, Chantal has the privilege of leading a passionate team and board in their pursuit of a just, thriving, and sustainable Alaska. Chantal oversees the organization’s Political, Advocacy, and Civic Engagement Departments and serves as lead Co-ED for fundraising — securing the financial resources that make this work possible.
Originally from Yokut lands in Central California, Chantal holds a BA and an MA from the University of Notre Dame. Before joining The Alaska Center, Chantal led political fundraising for Alyse Galvin’s campaign for US House in 2018. She began her nonprofit career serving families experiencing homelessness on the south side of Chicago. Chantal and her partner moved to Alaska in 2013 for “two years”– proving that sometimes the best plans are the ones you didn’t make. She now lives in Dgheyay Kaq’ with her family, where she enjoys gardening in their backyard farm, cooking, playing music with friends, and traveling around the globe and in the Alaskan backcountry.
Victoria Long-Leather
Co-Executive Director
AK Center Education FundVicki is a critical partner in ensuring the organization runs efficiently and effectively and drives toward our vision. Vicki oversees our operations and finance department while also managing our youth programs, Trailside Discovery Camp and AYEA.
With a passion for outdoor education and youth leadership, Vicki strives to make a difference in the world. In 2017 Vicki moved to Alaska to work for The Alaska Center/The Alaska Center Education Fund and was blown away by AKC/EdFund’s commitment to creating a thriving, just, and sustainable Alaska for future generations. Previously Vicki worked as an educator, trainer, and mentor to youth and young adults. Born and raised in Felixstowe, England, Vicki now lives and works on the lands of the Dena’ina people, where she and her family are avid fisherfolk, hunters, and rugby players.
Kyla Kosednar
Advocacy Director
AK Center Education FundKyla is a lifelong Alaskan and UAA alum. She started volunteering with The Alaska Center in 2015, as a member of the organization’s Volunteer Leadership Committee. Working alongside community organizers, she helped fight the Pebble Mine, the Chuitna Mine, and engage community members during state and local elections. In 2016, she became the Deputy Canvass Director and has knocked on thousands of doors all across the state. She is passionate about giving Alaskans a voice and has spent countless hours talking to community members about the issues they care about. When she isn’t scrolling through social media, she enjoys fishing, hiking, and solving puzzles.
Alison Lum
Development Director
AK Center Education FundAs the Development Director, Alison is dedicated to implementing equitable and inclusive fundraising practices. She strives to ensure that community and equity are reflected in all fundraising efforts. Drawing from her wealth of experience in community development, philanthropy, and grant-making, spanning both the public and private sectors, she actively supports the Center’s vision of fostering a thriving, just, and sustainable Alaska for future generations.
Born and raised in Hawai’i, Alison and her family now reside on Dena’ina lands. They have deep family ties to Alaska and are grateful to be living full-time in its wide-open spaces, breathtaking beauty, and wild abundance.
Megan Kelley
Communications Director
AK Center Education FundMegan is the Communications Director at The Alaska Center, where she leads strategic communications, storytelling, and public engagement efforts that help amplify the voices of Alaskans working to create positive change.
A born-and-raised Alaskan, Megan is a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She brings more than 15 years of experience in communications, public relations, marketing, media advertising, and community outreach. Throughout her career, she has focused on connecting people with information, resources, and opportunities that strengthen Alaska’s communities.
Outside of work, Megan enjoys embracing Alaska’s adventurous spirit through hiking, packrafting, snowboarding, and travel. She is also an avid hula hooper and loves dancing to electronic music at festivals and events. Megan is the proud mother of two boys, one of whom is on the autism spectrum, an experience that has deepened her commitment to advocacy, inclusion, and building strong communities.
Debbie Hackenberger
Finance & Accounting Manager
AK Center Education FundAs the Finance Manager Debbie brings over 20 years of expertise in bookkeeping to The Alaska Center. A wizard with the numbers with a knack for knowing what needs to go where in the accounting her journey reflects a steadfast commitment to precision and operational efficiency, empowering The Alaska Center to achieve financial success.
Beyond her career, Debbie is the proud owner of two dogs, deriving immense joy and companionship from them. Debbie also has a creative side writing short stories, which allows her to explore diverse narratives and share meaningful experiences. She firmly believes that a well-rounded life enhances professional performance, and endeavors to harmonize her passion for finance with a love for storytelling and the delight of pet companionship.
Bridget Jochum
Development Associate
AK Center Education FundAs the Development Associate, Bridget works alongside the Development Director and Fundraising Coordinator to support fundraising events, donor stewardship, and granting opportunities that advance The Alaska Center’s programming. She brings with her a background in communications to bring mission-driven storytelling into the fundraising landscape.
Bridget first came to Alaska as a Jesuit Volunteer/Americorps member in Refugee Resettlement, where she had the privilege of witnessing newcomers fall in love with our community and state while balancing the very real challenges that come from starting anew. It was through watching the ways that Alaskans continuously step up to support our neighbors that made a one year commitment turn into a permanent home. In the years since, she has been deeply committed to community-led nonprofit work that supports all our neighbors.
In her free time, you’ll find Bridget exploring Dena’ina by biking, skiing, ice skating, or hiking.
Leila Pyle
AYEA Program Manager
AK Center Education FundLeila is the Program Manager for Alaska Youth for Environmental Action – aka AYEA! She is a lifelong Alaskan who grew up in Kodiak and now lives in Fairbanks. She is a proud alumni of the AYEA program herself and before coming to this role, volunteered with AYEA for several years as an adult mentor. Leila has worked in a variety of outdoor and place-based education and youth leadership programs across Alaska and is passionate about helping young people connect to the lands and communities they are a part of. In her role with AYEA, she works to uplift youth voices in the climate justice movement and help young people gain the skills and confidence they need to work for a better future for Alaska.
Leila holds a BA in Art from Reed College and is an artist and community organizer.
Felix Rivera
Partnerships Coordinator
AK Center Education FundFelix (he/him) is the Partnerships Coordinator for The Alaska Center. He works with several key coalitions on strengthening relationships to achieve a renewable, affordable, and pro-worker future for all Alaskans.
At heart, Felix is a gamer and overall nerd, policy wonk, and organizer who moved up to Alaska in 2008 from San Antonio, Texas after he graduated high school. He currently serves on the Anchorage Assembly and has a long history of non-profit service in Anchorage, having volunteered to serve on a variety of boards whose missions include youth recidivism, immigration justice, and LGBTQIA+ equality and more.
Felix graduated from Alaska Pacific University in 2011 in liberal studies with a focus on journalism and decided to stay in Anchorage, having fallen head over heels with the community and Dena’ina land he now calls home.
Justine Riekena
Fundraising Coordinator
AK Center Education FundJustine works closely with the Development Director, Development Associate, and program staff to plan and execute special events, support donor stewardship and advance the critical mission of engaging supporters to sustain our work. She was drawn to The Alaska Center by a fervent desire to participate in meaningful work that creates positive change for our communities and local environment. She is immensely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of the organization’s mission of environmental, social and political advocacy.
Born and raised in Utah on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes, Justine developed her reverence and adoration for high desert environments and ecosystems. She later travelled to New England where she earned a B.S. in Wildlife & Fisheries Conservation and a B.S. in Physical Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. An abundance of adventures and misadventures ultimately led her to Alaska where she can be found, among other things, herding teenagers, perpetrating art, cultivating plants and hunting fungi.
Natalie Stefano
Administrative & Operations Coordinator
AK Center Education FundAs the Administrative & Operations Coordinator, Natalie ensures efficient office management, human resources administration and operational support for The Alaska Center. She brings over a decade of experience in Alaskan nonprofits and is excited to use her skills and knowledge to further advance The Alaska Center’s mission.
Born and raised in the lower 48, Natalie originally moved to Alaska to serve as an AmeriCorps volunteer on a one-year contract. After her first month of service, she realized her love for Alaska and the Dena’ina land and decided to stay indefinitely. Outside of work, Natalie can be found watching the newest blockbuster movie in theaters or exploring the trails with her dog.
Piper Haugan
Civic Engagement Program Manager
AK Center Education FundAs The Alaska Center’s civic engagement program manager, Piper brings energy, warmth and an enthusiastic reminder that it’s not democracy without you!
A graduate of Valdez High School, Piper spent years in the journalism industry in Montana and Iowa before moving into voting rights advocacy and policy work for a disability rights organization. Piper’s life’s work is to remind everyone how important their experiences are, and to empower them to share their stories with decision makers in order to effect change. She likes to say there’s a spark for everyone in the world of civic engagement, from sidewalks to neighborhood parks to public transportation and beyond. She would love to hear about the policy decisions you care about – even if it’s about your school lunch or your morning commute.
Cindy Tapia Ruiz
Trailside Discovery Camp Director
AK Center Education FundCindy manages registration, curriculum, staff hiring, and program logistics for Trailside Discovery Camp. She loves having the opportunity to be a part of inspiring our future leaders to create a more sustainable Alaska.
Raised in Alaska, she ran wild on the beaches and forests and grew up swimming in Alaskan lakes. Cindy believes that her children and all children deserve a thriving, just, and sustainable future. At The Alaska Center Education Fund, she can bring that vision into every aspect of her work. With a background in education and human development, she has worked as a teacher, mentor, and director of childcare and youth programs. Initially a journalism major, her path was changed after traveling in poverty-stricken areas in Mexico. There she discovered that her true passion lies in breaking down barriers to education and working with youth.
When not working, she spends as much time as possible outdoors with her family, fishing, hiking, and camping. Born on the lands of the O’odham Jewed and Hia-Ced O’odham peoples in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico, Cindy now lives and works on the unceded lands of the Dena’ina people.
Kamryn You Mak
Youth Leadership Coordinator
AK Center Education FundKamryn is an Environmental Education and Youth Leadership Fellow, working with Trailside and AYEA to facilitate young people deepening their connections with local environments and other beings. She grew up in San Francisco, California, with strong influences from the ocean, place-based education, and social movements. Through environmental education and storytelling, Kamryn loves to connect with youth to make change in their lives and communities. Kamryn enjoys spending time outside, playing games and sports, reading, and baking.
David Clark
Interior Civic Engagement Organizer
AK Center Education FundAs the Interior Civic Engagement Organizer, David focuses on building relationships and authentic engagement with historically-underrepresented groups, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and young people, and the many intersectionalities that come along with those lived experiences. His goals are to 1) equip people that he meets with accurate information about upcoming elections, 2) make sure their registration is up to date, and 3) empower them to make it to the polls by making a plan to vote.
David moved up to Fairbanks from Anchorage last fall, and he doesn’t know why he didn’t make the move sooner. He holds a BA from UAA, a certificate in applied politics from The George Washington University, an MPA in municipal governance from UAS, and will soon start his MBA at UAF. He also brings with him lots of past experiences in community and civic spaces, and he’s excited to continue to grow as an organizer and work towards empowering his community towards civic engagement, because healthy communities require an involved citizenry.
In his spare time, he likes to read, binge-listen public radio, hang out with friends, volunteer, play outside, annoy his friends and family with voting information, and apparently, go to school.
Meet Our Board
Our volunteer board provides leadership, governance, and support The Alaska Center Education Fund. Our work is guided by a multi-year strategic plan to achieve our vision of a thriving, just, and sustainable Alaska for future generations.
* Asterisks denote The Alaska Center crossover board member
Sarah Alvarez
Chair
Eagle River
sarah@akcenter.org
Sarah’s two greatest passions are Alaska and education. She recently joined the Alaska Center Education Fund board because its mission focuses on both! The Education Fund’s integrated approach is educating and equipping Alaskan kids to be confident environmental advocates, empowered community leaders, and thoughtful stewards of our land.
Sarah has experience working with non-profits across all sectors as a senior fundraising consultant for CCS Fundraising, and international philanthropic solutions firm. CCS partners with organizations of all sizes and varying missions to exceed their philanthropic goals, and subsequently making a meaningful impact on their communities. While she loves all of her clients, her favorites are those whose missions are rooted in education, opportunities for students and families, and those committed to leveling the playing field for historically disenfranchised communities.
Prior to fundraising consulting, Sarah spent 15+ years in education – first as a special education teacher, then as an elementary school principal. She is a Teach For America alumna (NYC’04!) and has taught or held leadership positions in the New York City, Los Angeles Unified, San Jose Unified and satellite areas, and Anchorage public school districts.
As a “sourdough” Alaskan, Sarah loves everything about the Last Frontier. She particularly loves to hike in the Chugach with her two dogs, camp in new places in her vintage 1962 Aloha travel trailer, and geocache while doing both.
Contact Sarah at sarah@akcenter.org
Becky Judd
Anchorage
Becky joined the Alaska Center’s Education Fund board in 2021 to further her commitment to increasing opportunities for Alaska’s youth. Her environmental roots go back to the 1970s as an outdoor program instructor for 6th graders. She believes it is critical to provide outdoor experiences for all children and youth so they can develop an appreciation of nature and public lands. She’s been an active supporter of AYEA since its beginnings because of its youth-led principles and passionate advocacy efforts. Her enthusiasm for the Education Fund stems from its ladder of engagement for school-age to young adults to become the next generation of public land stewards and environmental justice advocates.
While Becky’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees were in education, most of her 40 years in Alaska have been devoted to adolescent health, the prevention/health promotion, and youth development fields. She began as a health educator and started a youth coalition that grew to over 100 chapters statewide. She has been working with youth in schools, outdoor challenge programs, after-school programs, and 20 years with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, as their Adolescent and Resiliency Specialist.
Becky has served on several youth-serving boards, co-founded the Spirit of Youth organization and the Anchorage Youth Development Coalition. She also co-authored the book, Helping Kids Succeed~ Alaskan Style. She provided leadership to the statewide Developmental Assets initiative, with the Association of Alaska School Boards, and launched the Youth Friendly Business Recognition Program and the Youth in Governance statewide initiative with AYEA.
In 2013 Becky started her own business, Strength-Based Strategies to provide training and assistance on best-practice approaches and evaluation in prevention programming and youth development. More recently, she developed an online, self-care course for frontline service providers at risk of burnout.
When Becky isn’t volunteering you will probably find her gardening, hiking, biking or paddling in Prince William Sound.
Harry Need
Treasurer
Anchorage
Harry W. Need is a father, husband, VW van knuckle-banger, ski patroller, and aspiring fly-fishing expert. As a seasoned relationship development professional, he guides potential benefactors and their advisors in transforming values and passions into impactful contributions to the University of Alaska. With a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage and accreditation as a Certified Fundraising Executive, Harry excels in philanthropic leadership while remaining deeply involved in his community. He serves as vice president of the South Addition Community Council and has held past leadership roles in the Fairview Community Council, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Alaska Chapter.
Raegan Nicholson
Vice Chair
Mat-Su Valley
Raegan was raised in the Mat-Su community, which allowed her to spend her youth exploring and connecting with nature, forging a deep appreciation for the traditional lands of the Ahtna and Dena’ina peoples. Raegan believes in the power of providing our youth with opportunities to connect with the lands on which they live and play.
Developing a passion for civic engagement through volunteering at local Mat-Su nonprofits led Raegan to join The Alaska Center Education Fund’s board in 2024, where she seeks to further live into her values of community, equity, and personal fulfillment.
Raegan currently works in Grants Management at the Mat-Su Health Foundation to combine her love for civic engagement with the desire to be the change she wants to see in the world. When she is not working, she can most likely be found outside with her two dogs, with her nose in a book, or trying out a new sourdough recipe!
Shayne Nuesca
Board Director
Anchorage
Shayne Nuesca is an award-winning media and communications professional. Born in the Philippines and raised in Anchorage, she has dedicated her work to amplifying underrepresented voices in Alaska. She is a co-founder of Mana, a collective documenting Filipino American History across the state.
Tolani Seabrook
Board Director
Mat-Su Valley
Tolani was born and raised on the East Coast, split between the inner city of New York City and the sprawling green of Upstate South Carolina. From an early age, she had a great love of nature and enjoyed studying the biological sciences. In college, her focus slowly shifted as she learned that environmental justice was directly linked to economic justice, and she chose teaching as her focus.
She moved to California and married Bill Finley in 2003. For the next 20 years, she worked through various agencies to bring justice to oppressed populations. She retired early to take care of her child, Kamari.
As a descendant of the Gullah people, she understands the importance of the land that was worked by our ancestors and strives to pass on that knowledge to the youth so that they will understand the importance of preserving the land.
Currently, she has a bachelor’s in elementary education from the University of Dallas and a master’s in social work from the University of North Dakota. She, her husband, Bill, and child, Kamari, live in Wasilla and enjoy family time together and travel.
Interested in joining our board?
The Alaska Center Education Fund Board of Directors is accepting applications for new board members. Currently, we are seeking additional board members from specific regions — the Interior, Southeast, and Southwest — to enhance our statewide perspectives and representation. Ideal board candidates support the mission, priorities, and strategies of The Alaska Center Education Fund and will be willing to leverage their networks to support positive changes focused on our mission throughout the state.
Our volunteer board provides leadership, governance, and support to The Alaska Center Education Fund. Our work is guided by a multi-year strategic plan to achieve our vision of a thriving, just, and sustainable Alaska for future generations. We need thoughtful individuals to join us in this work. Our board meets 9 times a year and 1 X two-day retreat in Anchorage with a Zoom option. In addition, board members participate in committee work. Alternatively, if you are interested in participating in a more focused way, contact us to become a part of one of our committees.
For more information and to apply (attach cover letter and resume or CV), please send your application to Carly at carly@akcenter.org