Behind every successful summer at RAHI is a dedicated team working to bring the program to life. From logistics and outreach to teaching and mentorship, this group of professionals and educators is committed to creating a supportive, engaging, and transformative experience for Alaska鈥檚 rural and Indigenous youth.

Academics

Jake Knuth

Jake Knuth

Academic Coach & DEVS F108/WRTG F110 Instructor

Koode虂ik' Marks

Koode虂ik' Marks

ANL F101 Instructor

Naatani Mayo

Naatani Mayo

ANL F101 Instructor

Alliyah Nay

Alliyah Nay

ANL F101 Instructor

Nalugalria Usugan-Weddington

Nalugalria Usugan-Weddington

ANL F101 Instructor

Qimalleq Teter

Qimalleq Teter

ANS F160 Instructor

Qimalleq Teter is Yup鈥檌k from St. Mary鈥檚. This is their fourth year teaching Alaska Native Dance for RAHI. They鈥檙e excited and honored to continue passing down cultures in this way. They are a Mt. Edgecumbe High School and 51风流官网 alumna, and proud to be so! Qimalleq loves spending time yuraq-ing, sewing, or in nature. They鈥檙e looking forward to another summer as part of the RAHI family!

Jacob Iya

Jacob Iya

ANS F194 Instructor

Hello! My name is Jacob Iya and I am from Savoonga, Alaska out in the Bering Sea. This is my third year working with RAHI, and I鈥檓 excited to meet all of you! I have a deep passion for lifting weights and lifting the spirits of others. If I鈥檓 not at the gym, I鈥檓 either working, eating or sleeping. I have graduated from RAHI back in 2018, and am grateful for this opportunity to come back as the Assistant Dorm Director and Native Games Instructor! I am thrilled to meet the RAHI Class of 2025, and I will see you all in person when you arrive.

Grete Bergman

Grete Bergman

ANS F242X Instructor

Fran莽ois Lano毛

Fran莽ois Lano毛

ANTH F193 Instructor

Shannon Doherty

Shannon Doherty

CHEM F103X Instructor

Scot Baer

Scot Baer

CHEM 103X TA

My name is Scot Baer, and I'm your Chem 103 TA this semester. I'm a master's student in biochemistry, a subject I became interested in after being diagnosed with cancer. (Fortunately, my cancer was knocked into remission by a small molecule drug--designed in large part by American chemists!)
 
I'll be providing help and assistance in the lab, tutoring, grading lab assignments, and facilitating an overall good learning environment. Looking forward to meeting everyone this semester!

Michael Angaiak

Michael Angaiak

ED F111 Instructor

Genova Brookes Boyd

LS F101X Instructor

Tyson Rinio

Tyson Rinio

LS F101X Instructor

David Fonger

David Fonger

PRT F101/F255 Instructor

Gavin Meggert

Gavin Meggert

RECR F120H Instructor

Anshul Pandya

Anshul Pandya

SCIA F115 Instructor

Anshul Pandya is a professor of Biosciences at the 51风流官网. He has been involved with RAHI once before. He loved the experience of teaching and interacting with the talented students who come to RAHI. He is passionate about teaching science and doing research. He enjoys Alaska all year round. He looks forward to working with the RAHI 2025 cohort!

Sarah Ellen Johnston

Sarah Ellen Johnston

SCIA F125 Instructor

Audrey Gibson

Audrey Gibson

WRTG F111X Instructor

Student Life

Kevin Huo

Kevin Huo

Dorm Director

Kevin Huo is from the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Currently Kevin is a graduate student in Arctic and Northern studies Masters program. This summer Kevin will serve as the Dorm Director. F'real. When not working Kevin enjoys watching movies, listening to music live, reading fascinating books, and playing volleyball. Kevin is excited to support the RAHI team this summer.

Jacob Iya

Jacob Iya

Assistant Dorm Director

Hello! My name is Jacob Iya and I am from Savoonga, Alaska out in the Bering Sea. This is my third year working with RAHI, and I鈥檓 excited to meet all of you! I have a deep passion for lifting weights and lifting the spirits of others. If I鈥檓 not at the gym, I鈥檓 either working, eating or sleeping. I have graduated from RAHI back in 2018, and am grateful for this opportunity to come back as the Assistant Dorm Director and Native Games Instructor! I am thrilled to meet the RAHI Class of 2025, and I will see you all in person when you arrive.

Roberta Miller

Overnight Safety Coordinator

Vera Rose Mountain

Vera Rose Mountain

Overnight Safety Coordinator

My name is Vera Rose Mountain. I am from Nulato, AK along the mighty Yukon River. My claim to fame was my stint in the U.S. Army many years ago during the first Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

I've worked with the Galena City School District for 26 years. I work with students from all over the state of Alaska on the Residence Hall side. My hobbies are beading(whenever I have time), making quilts(whenever I have time), walking(whenever I have time), surfing Facebook, reading, cleaning, spending time with family, traveling to Seattle, Wa and Las Vegas, Nv.

I look forward to working as an Overnight Safety Coordinator for RAHI this summer and I am interested in Writing. Have an amazing day and I look forward to meeting you all in a couple of weeks. Stay amazing!

Nuulau Alaelua

Nuulau Alaelua

Tutor Counselor

Dakota Gamache

Tutor Counselor

George Gregory

Tutor Counselor

Aurora Hoefferle

Aurora Hoefferle

Tutor Counselor

Maya Russin

Tutor Counselor

Chris Silides

Chris Silides

Tutor Counselor

Hi, my name is Chris Silides and I'm from Fairbanks. I'm working on my degree at 51风流官网 right now, I like to kayak, and I'm excited for the chances we'll have this summer to get outside and enjoy the weather.

 

Administration

Brianna Pauling

Brianna Pauling

Program Manager

Brianna Pauling grew up in Dillingham, Alaska and obtained her B.S. in Biological Sciences and MBA in General Management at the 51风流官网. She has been working with programs that support rural Alaskan education since 2011 and continues to advocate for student success in her current role as the program manager for the RAHI. This will be her seventh summer with RAHI!

H
er free time is happily spent with her husband, their son, and their two dogs, enjoying everyday adventures together under the midnight sun.

Bambi Nelson

Bambi Nelson

Assistant Program Manager

Bambi joined 51风流官网 in 2004 and has spent 15 years in positions with the College of Rural and Community Development and 51风流官网 Development. She spent 6 years in Houston, Texas, working in children鈥檚 library programming and is excited to be working with youth again in her role with RAHI.

In her free time, Bambi enjoys reading, writing and watching British TV. She鈥檚 a regular contributor to Houston Moms, creating and sharing parenting-related content. A proponent of children鈥檚 literacy, she is a former board member for the Fairbanks Children鈥檚 Museum and volunteers with Gals Read and the Fairbanks Food Bank. She and her husband share homeschooling duties for their son and their rescue Chiweenie keeps the whole family on their toes.

Catherine Moses

Catherine Moses

Office Coordinator

Catherine Moses is originally from Hooper Bay, and calls Fairbanks home. Catherine has been on the RAHI team since 2023 and is the Indigenous Student Services Office Coordinator. This summer she is looking forward to long bike rides with her family and going for walks with her dogs An'ni, Mellow, and Chocolate. Welcome to Fairbanks c/o 2025!

Debbie Mekiana

Debbie Mekiana

Academic Coordinator