Laurie Evans-Dinneen - Executive Director

Phone: (907) 272-5302
Email: ledinneen@akhf.org

Alyse Loran - Program Assistant

Alyse Loran is a lifelong Alaskan born and raised in Anchorage and a recent graduate of Gonzaga University where she studied International Business, Law and Public Policy, and Entrepreneurial Leadership. In her time at Gonzaga, she helped run numerous community service organizations including an after school mentoring program for underprivileged youth and a small business incubation program. She also worked for the national non-profit, Teach for America, where she helped with marketing and recruitment of teachers to help close the achievement gap in our nations underprivileged urban and rural school districts. In her free time, Alyse is an avid skier, runner, and biker.

Trina Landlord -

Trina Landlord has worked on indigenous issues locally, nationally and internationally. She has directed the Alaska Marketplace , an economic development initiative of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) modeled after the World Bank Development Marketplace, and for three years she coordinated the Elders and Youth Conference during the annual AFN Convention week. Her work on Alaska Native issues earned her an internship at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland , working with top leaders from across the globe. Trina recently completed a fellowship at the Alaska House, a cultural embassy in New York City. She is of Yup'ik ancestry from Mountain Village and says of of her work at the Alaska Humanities Forum, My hope is for young Alaska Natives to seek the right balance for positive change in the best of both worlds, now and for generations to come."

Amber Matthews is a life-long Alaskan and her background includes a variety of management positions held in both for-profit and tribal sectors in Alaska and Oregon. From leading the Georgetown Tribal Council and Skagway Traditional Council to marketing for CIDA, Inc. Her experience is in designing business plans, finance, guiding board of directors and grant administration and directing environmental programs.

Currently, Matthews is the project manager for Alaska Humanities Forum directing the day to day implementation of a new program, Take Wing Alaska, by providing a structured and supportive framework to assist Alaska Native students from Yukon-Kuskokwim school districts to transition successfully into a post-secondary institution. Amber says of her work at the Forum, "Education is one of the most important aspects in a young adults life, I believe if other areas of life are a struggle, accomplishing the goal of a quality education becomes the touchstone for a promising future." She holds degrees in International Business and Management from Whitworth University.

Matthew Turner - Sister School Guide

Matthew Turner has worked closely with youth and adults in communities throughout Alaska. He helped to develop the independent living program for Alaskas foster care system, and has a lot of experience with paticipatory planning with diverse groups. When not on the road he is most likely found on the trail or on the water somewhere in Southeast Alaska.

Kayla Boettcher - Sister School Guide

Kayla Boettcher lives and plays in Sitka. Born and raised on an Iowa farm, Kayla began her chapter in Alaska with a job at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in 2001. Since then, she has completed a master's degree focused on adolescent resiliency and worked with several Alaska schools and agencies on their evaluation efforts. She is particularly enthusiastic about narrative evaluation; i.e., determining program impact through storytelling. Kayla is also a musician: she plays violin with the Juneau Symphony and fiddles around Sitka, teaches music in her private studio, dabbles in other string instruments, and DJs a weekly jazz and swing show on KCAW in Sitka. Kayla has been peripherally involved with the Rose Urban Rural Exchange over the past few years, helping with some program changes and curriculum development, and is thrilled to now be a Sister School Guide.