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Dr. Josephine-Mary “Josie” Sam grew up in Cape Coast, Ghana. She has a bachelor’s degree (BA Hons) in English and History from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, as well as a master’s degree in Natural Resources Management and Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Sustainability from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Dr. Sam is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development and the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

She has worked extensively in the areas of rural and community development, including assisting villages in Ghana to build sustainable water supply systems and helping Alaskan communities address climate change impacts. She most recently served as the coordinator for the Food Security Working Group of the Arctic Observing Summit, and is the program director for the Nyarkoa Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization she co-founded in 2007 to support community-based projects in Ghana.

Her teaching and research focus on equality and fairness in climate change adaptation and natural resources management, and addressing barriers to long-term success in rural and community development
efforts.

She enjoys reading humorous mysteries, listening to music, and spending time on the beach – when she can get to one!

Christine Davenport is an alumna of the rural development Master of Arts program and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Indigenous studies. Her research focus is culturally relevant, community-led strategies for promoting wellness in Alaska Native and rural communities. Davenport resides in and works from Sheetkʼá (Sitka).

For the past several years, she has served half-time Assistant Professor for DANSRD and a half-time Graduate Student Coordinator for the Indigenous Studies and Rural Development graduate programs. Davenport earned her B.A. in social sciences through UAS Ketchikan. She enjoys capturing images of her surroundings, swimming in the ocean, and exploring the old-growth forests of Lingít Aaní.

Dr. Charleen Fisher is Gwich’in, Koyukon, and Dena'ina from Beaver, Alaska. She currently teaches at the ����Ӱҵas an Assistant Professor where she earned a Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies.



Publications:

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• Towards Arctic Research Upholding Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: Recommendations for ICARP IV, the International Conference on Arctic Research Planning

Ade' Yuxudz (Hello Everyone)! Sonta Hamilton Roach is Deg Hit'an from the village of Shageluk, Alaska, where she lives and works as Assistant Professor in the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. 

Professor Roach received her bachelor's degree in Rural Development at ����Ӱҵ and her master's degree in Elementary Education from UAS. Her research interests are in the areas of community and strategic planning, rural economic and business development, and education in rural/tribal areas of Alaska. She has served on the Board of Directors for Doyon, Limited, for nine years, along with Doyon Foundation, an educational non-profit organization supporting Doyon shareholders through scholarships and language learning opportunities. 

She enjoys living in Shageluk where she continues to live a traditional and subsistence lifestyle connected closely to the land. If she is not in the office, she is out on the river or in the woods.

Tia Tidwell is an Assistant Professor of DANSRD. She belongs to the Nunamiut people of Anaktuvuk Pass and currently resides in Fairbanks. Tia holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Her research focuses on the intersection of settler colonial studies, Arctic literature, and Indigenous counter-narratives. Tia is especially interested in adapting settler colonial theoretical frameworks borrowed from New Zealand, Australia, and the continental United States to account for alternative land claim resolutions and creative resurgent responses from Indigenous communities of Alaska and Northern Canada.

An alumna of the Rural Alaska Honors Institute and Dot Lake High School, Fitzgerald earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences at ����Ӱҵ 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 ����Ӱҵ, 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.

Laurie Trotta is the Graduate Success Coordinator for the ����Ӱҵ College of Indigenous Studies, where she is responsible for overseeing the academic advising of graduate students throughout their graduate school lifecycle, from prospective student status through graduation. On a mission to help students achieve their aspirations and goals, she is focused on providing all the support a student needs, advocating for students, and creating a welcome and supportive environment for all.

Prior to taking on this role, she was the Coordinator for the Department of Tribal Governance for 3 years. Before joining the Tribal Governance team, Trotta spent 6 years working as a Coordinator with the Migrant Education Program supporting students and their families living a subsistence lifestyle.  She 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 and advise students in the Environmental Sciences academic programs. She also advised a student Outdoor Recreation Club for 12 years and did everything from backpacking in the Adirondack Mountains to exploring Denali National Park and surfing in Costa Rica. 

After 22 years of university service at New York State Agriculture and Technology colleges, Laurie moved to Fairbanks, a longtime second home that is now her primary home. 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, needle crafts, drawing, or reading.