AUUF Podcasts

Gary Holthaus has served as the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship called minister since 2012. Originally ordained as a Methodist minister, Gary has also made a living as a poet, author, educator and non-profit administrator, and has been involved in environmental and social issues for 60 years. He arrived in Alaska in 1964. He earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Sacred Theology from Boston University. He has published numerous books of poetry and non-fiction, including "The Unauthorized Bible".

Caitlin Hedberg has served as a development officer for Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands (PPGNHI) for over five years. During that time, she is perhaps most proud of the way that PPGNHI has innovated to serve rural Alaskans with the Planned Parenthood Care app, which connects Alaskans everywhere with direct access to clinicians to provide birth control and other critical reproductive services. She holds a M.A. from the University of Denver in International Administration, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Denver. Caitlin speaks Spanish fluently and enjoys traveling and exploring the world, especially nature. She lives in Anchorage with her partner, Chris, and her 10 month old pup, Carlo.

Dr. Tina Tomsen was a military brat, graduated from Dimond High School, went to Rice University, the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, then did 2 years at Dartmouth and 3 more at Baylor College of Medicine for residency. She returned to Anchorage in 1986 and was in solo practice from 1986 - 1995, at which time she became one of the founding partners of the Anchorage Women’s Clinic. She is now the last practicing founding partner at AWC, which has grown to employ about 70 souls. Tina has limited her practice to (benign) gynecology since 1992, added robotic surgery to her skillset in 2009, and most recently ceased doing major surgeries to have time for more administrative duties while continuing office practice and minor surgeries. She has “too many hobbies, and has developed plenty of opinions…. but that makes for a good life.”

2016 Annual Meeting

A celebration of Earth Day

Brian Patrick O’Donoghue teaches Journalism at University of Alaska Fairbanks. His 14-year, student-assisted investigation of the Hartman murder case yielded discoveries cited in court decisions, and figured prominently in exoneration arguments made by the Alaska Innocence Project that culminated in a December 2015 settlement freeing the so-called “Fairbanks Four”. For these efforts, O’Donoghue has been recognized by the state press association, Fairbanks Native Association, and others. Over a 30-year career spanning print, broadcast and mobile journalism, O’Donoghue reported what it feels like pulling 7Gs in a F-16, building oilfields at 70-below on Arctic Ocean ice, and sweeping Iraq palm groves for weapons with Stryker Brigade soldiers. His news photos document Mid East peace talks, tribal gatherings, disasters, politics and jazz. He was Fulbright-Nehru Scholar in India, and his books, including My lead Dog was a Lesbian, recount mushing in both the Iditarod and Yukon Quest. Brian and his wife Kate Ripley have three children.

Coming of Age Gala

Bridging Ceremony

John McKay is a poet and playwright, with an M.F.A. in poetry from UAA. He graduated from University of Michigan Law School in 1975, after earning a master’s degree in journalism, and working briefly for the Detroit Free Press. He clerked for a federal judge for two years, then came to Alaska in 1977. McKay has represented most Alaska news media, and many national news organizations, as well as journalists, photographers, artists and others. He has taught First Amendment and media law as an adjunct professor at University of Alaska Anchorage for over thirty years. In 2007, McKay was the first recipient of the Alaska Press Club’s First Amendment Award, and in 2011, on its 40th anniversary, he was honored as one of “40 Heroes of Constitutional Rights” by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska. He is the father of two sons, and the sweetheart of one fine woman.

Aleesha Towns-Bain is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Rasmuson Foundation. Aleesha has a Bachelor of Arts with concentrations in journalism and Native American studies from The Evergreen State College and a Master of Arts in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Before joining the Foundation in 2008, she was the editor of the Crested Butte News, a Colorado weekly, and was honored several times by the Colorado Press Association. In addition to her work as a journalist, Aleesha worked in public relations in Washington D.C. specializing in Native American issues.Most recently, Aleesha has worked on ‘Recover Alaska’ and the ‘Alaska Children’s Trust’. In 2012, she was selected as one of Alaska’s Top 40 Under 40. Her mother’s side of the family has its roots in Pilot Point, in the Bristol Bay region.

Gary Holthaus has served as the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship called minister since 2012. Originally ordained as a Methodist minister, Gary has also made a living as a poet, author, educator and non-profit administrator, and has been involved in environmental and social issues for 60 years. He arrived in Alaska in 1964. He earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Sacred Theology from Boston University. He has published numerous books of poetry and non-fiction, including "The Unauthorized Bible".