AUUF Podcasts

Rep. Bryce Edgmon is Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives.  He has served in the Alaska Legislature since 2007 and is in his second term as Speaker. Born and raised in Dillingham, Bryce is chair of the Dillingham-based village corporation Choggiung Ltd.  He formerly served as COO of the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, chair of the City of Dillingham Planning Commission, and on the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.  He earned his degree in Business Administration from UAA.  Bryce enjoys hunting, fishing and music, and raising three children with his wife, Melody.

Craig George is the North Slope Borough’s Senior Wildlife Biologist (Emeritus), who recently retired after nearly 40 years with the Borough’s Department of Wildlife Management.  Originally from New York, Craig came to Alaska in the mid-1970s. He earned a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Utah State University in 1976 and completed his Ph.D. in bowhead whale energetics, age estimation, and morphology in 2009. He specializes in studies of the bowhead whale and local fish and works closely with Iñupiat hunters. Having participated and later managed the Borough's whale population census counts, stationed on the sea ice, starting in 1982, Craig has a deep understanding of the sea ice from both a local and scientific perspective. Craig is a keen observer of the local environment and keeps detailed records of weather and ice conditions. Craig has published extensively on his bowhead whale research results, helps visiting researchers, and frequently participates as a collaborating interviewer in traditional knowledge projects.

For more information, and photos and videos, relating to Craig George’s Forum presentation, Craig recommends visiting the North Slope Borough’s website page for the NSB Wildlife Management Department, http://www.north-slope.org/departments/wildlife-management

and in particular, he suggests checking out:

http://www.north-slope.org/departments/wildlife-management/for-teachers-and-students

and

http://www.north-slope.org/departments/wildlife-management/studies-and-research-projects/bowhead-whales/bowhead-whale-ecological-studies#YrLifeBH

and this film, by Steve Okkenen:  Arctic Currents: A Year in the Life of the Bowhead Whale (English)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ksl2YXdd4&feature=youtu.be

Cindy Johnson s a retired member of the faculty at Gustavus Adolphus College in Biology, Environmental Studies, and African Studies.

She is a self-proclaimed "plant pusher" with passion for plant biology, ecology (particularly East African savannas), and the importance of plants in our world. Cindy has lived in Tanzania (Fulbright Scholar), climbed Kilimanjaro, and led many safaris to Tanzania. She is at home in the wide-open spaces of the Serengeti. Cindy teaches Conservation Biology, Plant Systematics, Organismal Biology, Environmental Justice, and the Natural History of Tanzania. Cindy's research is in plant conservation, particularly the rare genus of ferns, moonworts (Botrychium). 'Moonwort Madness' is a disease common among Cindy's students that results in an obsessive interest in these bizarre ferns. Cindy also has a strong interest and admiration for trees, the magnificent Baobabs of Africa among her favorites.

You can find a pdf version of Cindy's presentation here.

Stephanie Holthaus is the Director of External and Corporate Affairs for The Nature Conservancy of Alaska. She is passionate about the intersection of positive social and environmental impacts in Alaska and around the world. She is working to find equitable solutions to climate change issues and to engage policymakers in achieving conservation goals that will protect people and nature for the long term. Before joining the non-profit world, she spent many years as an executive in the transportation industries of aviation, logistics, and shipping. She serves as a board member for the YWCA of Alaska and as a coach for social enterprise business incubators including NYU Stern and Seattle- based Fledge.​

​https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/alaska/

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/alaska/stories-in-alaska/women-climate-change/

 https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/women-on-climate/

Zack Fields represents downtown Anchorage, Fairview, South Addition, Government Hill, and Eastridge in the Alaska House of Representatives. He also works as an organizer for Laborers Local 341 and writes outdoor columns for the Anchorage PRESS. He has previously worked as Workforce Development Coordinator for the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and as a legislative/policy staffer at the local, state, and federal levels. Zack earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Virgini

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dz8nr7294bp26z1/PoetBios_PoetrySunday.pdf?dl=0

Here is a list of the poets in the order that their poetry is read - Barb Hood, Gary Holthaus (read by Lynn Hallquist), Mary Kancewick (MarKa), Marie Lundstrom, John McKay, Susanna Mishler. John Morgan, Jill Osier, Jeremy Pataky, Tracy Philpot, Vivian Faith Prescott (read by Cristy Willer), Tom Sexton (read by Peter Porco), Karen Tschannen (read by John Blaine). You can find bios for the poets and the names of their poems that were read here—

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dz8nr7294bp26z1/PoetBios_PoetrySunday.pdf?dl=0

Forum via Zoom®

Kirk Rose is Chief Executive Officer of the Anchorage Community Land Trust. He has been with ACLT for nine years and has served as its CEO for five. Kirk was one of just 43 urban leaders worldwide named a 2017 Next City Vanguard, and during his tenure with the organization, ACLT was awarded the National Development Council’s highest honor as the ‘Most Innovative Community Development Project’ in the United States. Both of these honors are due to ACLT’s incredible staff team of leaders. Kirk currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Anchorage Downtown Partnership Board.

Forum via Zoom®

Kirk Rose is Chief Executive Officer of the Anchorage Community Land Trust. He has been with ACLT for nine years and has served as its CEO for five. Kirk was one of just 43 urban leaders worldwide named a 2017 Next City Vanguard, and during his tenure with the organization, ACLT was awarded the National Development Council’s highest honor as the ‘Most Innovative Community Development Project’ in the United States. Both of these honors are due to ACLT’s incredible staff team of leaders. Kirk currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Anchorage Downtown Partnership Board.

Forum via Zoom®

Susan Orlansky is a long-time member of AUUF and currently serves as part of the legal team representing Recall Dunleavy. She has lived in Alaska since 1980, has been admitted to practice law here since 1981, and is now an attorney in private practice.

Forum via Zoom®

Susan Orlansky is a long-time member of AUUF and currently serves as part of the legal team representing Recall Dunleavy. She has lived in Alaska since 1980, has been admitted to practice law here since 1981, and is now an attorney in private practice.