Jake Knuth

Academic Coach & DEVS F108/WRTG F110 Instructor

Koodéik' Marks

ANL F101 Instructor

Naatani Mayo

ANL F101 Instructor

Alliyah Nay

ANL F101 Instructor

Nalugalria Usugan-Weddington

ANL F101 Instructor

Qimalleq Teter

ANS F160 Instructor

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

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’m excited to meet all of you! I have a deep passion for lifting weights and lifting the spirits of others. If I’m not at the gym, I’m 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

ANS F242X Instructor

François Lanoë

ANTH F193 Instructor

Shannon Doherty

CHEM F103X Instructor

Scot Baer

CHEM 103X TA

Michael Angaiak

ED F111 Instructor

My Yup'ik name is Ulruan and my English name is Michael Angaiak. My father, Andy, is from Tununak and was the 30-year Director of the Upward Bound Program here at UAF while my mom, Marie, began her teaching career in Toksook Bay. I was an elementary school teacher and principal in ����ix���� for 25 years and just completed my 3rd year teaching in UAF's School of Education. Alaskan schools NEED Alaskan teachers like YOU and I'm excited to share more about our profession with you in ED 111: "Teaching for Alaska's Future."

Genova Brookes Boyd

LS F101X Instructor

Genova Brookes Boyd has a Bachelor Degree in Teaching and History, and Masters of Library Sciences. She has worked as Collection Development Manager / Engagement Librarian, and Professor of Library Information and Research at the Rasmuson Library- UAF for 5 years. In her spare time she reads, walks her dog, teaches Yoga and enjoys archery.

Tyson Rinio

LS F101X Instructor

David Fonger

PRT F101/F255 Instructor

Gavin Meggert

RECR F120H Instructor

Anshul Pandya

SCIA F115 Instructor

Anshul Pandya is a professor of Biosciences at the ����ix����. 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

SCIA F125 Instructor

Audrey Gibson

WRTG F111X Instructor

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

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’m excited to meet all of you! I have a deep passion for lifting weights and lifting the spirits of others. If I’m not at the gym, I’m 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

My name is Roberta Miller, I am originally from Unalakleet, AK & have attended RAHI back in 2013. I just completed my BS in Geoscience with a concentration in Geology and will hopefully be starting my master’s program this fall. I have two cats and a dog, Ferguson (8 yrs & white cat), Revan (3 yrs, short haired), & Cassie (almost 2 yrs, Lab-Samoyed mix). During my free time, I enjoy reading with my cats and biking around town.

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 am Koyukon Athabascan and I look forward to working with all of you wonderful people!  Life is beautiful! Reach for the stars!

Nuulau Alaelua

Tutor Counselor

Hello everyone! I’m Nuulau Alaelua, but you can call me Nu’u or Nunu (whichever is easier to yell across a room). I’m working on my Master’s in Business Administration and have worked in UAF Residential Life for over three years. I had the opportunity to be the Assistant Resident Director for Eileen Panigeo MacLean House where I worked closely with rural students which led me to RAHI! Woo-hoo! I love food, trying new things, spending time with people, being active, and playing lots and lots of volleyball! Let’s have a fun summer :)

Dakota Gamache

Tutor Counselor

Hello:) I am one of this years Tutor Counselors for RAHI. I am Inupiaq and Yup’ik, and was born and raised in Alaska. I’m a Junior attending the UAF. I’m currently studying Wildlife Biology and Conservation. Some of my hobbies include cultural activities such as sewing, beading, wood carving, and berry picking.

George Gregory

Tutor Counselor

Hello, I will be one of y’all’s tutor counselor my name is George Gregory I am from Bethel Alaska. I am a sophomore here at uaf. This is my first year working with RAHI, I am so excited to see you all progress closer to college. Also I’ll be here if you need any help

Aurora Hoefferle

Tutor Counselor

Howdy! My name is Aurora, my pronouns are they/them, and I am allergic to conventional fashion. I grew up in Dillinham, AK, and currently live in Anchorage, where I teach at the Alaska Middle College School (AMCS). I have a BS in Natural Sciences and a BA in Theatre from UAA and In 2019 I earned my Masters of Arts in Teaching from UAS.

Maya Russin

Tutor Counselor

Hi everyone! My name is Maya, I’m one of your tutor/counselors for the summer. I’m from Mountain Village, on the Lower Yukon River, and just graduated with my Bachelor of Fisheries Science degree from UAF this May. I love everything fish and science--my favorite fish is a sheefish! I also love hiking, fishing, beading earrings, reading and eating good food. I’m excited for this summer, and am always here to help and listen.

Chris Silides

Tutor Counselor

Hi, my name is Chris Silides and I'm from ����ix����. I'm working on my degree at UAF 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.

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 ����ix����. 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!

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

Bambi Nelson

Assistant Program Manager

Catherine Moses

Office Coordinator

Catherine Moses is originally from Hooper Bay, and calls ����ix���� 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 ����ix���� c/o 2025!

Debbie Mekiana

Academic Coordinator

Debbie Mekiana, is an Assistant Professor at the ����ix���� (UAF) in the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development (DANSRD). Debbie’s academic history is in the social sciences (Psychology) and Education. She has taught K-12 in her village of Anaktuvuk Pass, AK and spent several years in the academic advising realm at UAF.  

When she is not immersed in academia, you will likely find her engrossed in the pages of a good book or sharing adventures with her three entertaining children and their four dogs. Debbie’s passion for social justice and decolonization informs both her personal and professional endeavors, as she strives to amplify Indigenous voices and foster inclusive spaces. She is proudly rooted in her Inupiaq heritage and finds solace and connection through traditional Nunamiut practices and embracing as much of a subsistence lifestyle as possible in ����ix����, AK.