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Sam is originally from Washington State, growing up outside of Seattle. After a family trip north to Alaska, he knew the 49th state was a place he wanted to live someday. Sam stayed in the Pacific Northwest to earn his undergraduate degree in history, but after graduation jumped at the opportunity to attend 51�������� for graduate school. He joined the Admissions team in 2022, and could not be more excited to be working for 51��������. 

Sam attended 51�������� from 2017-2020, graduating with his M.A. in Arctic and Northern Studies. While at 51�������� Sam connected with students and their families as a history teaching assistant, worked at the Patty Ice Rink where he became an expert Zamboni driver (cool, right?!) and got to travel to Arctic Finland. After a brief hiatus in the “Lower 48” to be near family, he is ecstatic to be back in Interior Alaska, and a part of the close-knit community at 51��������. 

Outside of work Sam enjoys hiking, camping, fly fishing, reading and relaxing with his cats, Pia and Lily. 

Jessica grew up in the Southwest region of Alaska alongside the Yukon River. She is Koyukon Athabascan and was raised on her family’s homestead. Jessica’s parents raised her with strong traditional and cultural values. They also made sure to raise her to be bi-cultural so that she could succeed in either a rural or urban setting. Up until she reached high school, she commuted 12 miles to the village of Nulato, AK for school. She then moved to Fairbanks, AK to continue her educational journey.

Education has been very important to Jessica her entire life. Her favorite person growing up (her grandmother, Edith Nicholas) was a teacher. Jessica grew up loving to learn and especially loved reading and writing thanks to her grandmother. Then as she got older, she started developing a love for the sciences. Jessica began to find that science is tied into everything her family was teaching her in their subsistence lifestyle. Her mother would have her make the brine for their salmon strips, which involves chemistry. She watched her father, uncles and brothers build a fish wheel, which requires math. There were nuisance beavers always trying to dam up the creek where her family got their water supply, which opened their eyes to the Biology of Giardia lamblia (“beaver fever”). It seemed that she was finding connections to science more often than not in her subsistence upbringing; thus, Jessica chose the STEM field for her postsecondary education.

All throughout her years in college, Jessica has enjoyed making connections with others and motivating fellow students to never give up on their higher education. She is delighted to be able to help prospective students find their way at 51��������.

Aliyah was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska and is a third-generation graduate from the 51��������. Growing up in Fairbanks, she played soccer and enjoyed figure skating. When Aliyah was 17 she moved to Texas, where she eventually ended up enlisting in the United States Army and served 10 years. Aliyah moved back to Alaska and received her Associate’s degree in Dental Assisting and Associate in Paralegal Studies. While attending college Aliyah worked as a VA work-study student for two years before joining the 51�������� Department of Military and Veteran Services team full-time as a Tuition Assistance Specialist, working with Active Duty Military members and their spouses. In 2023 she joined the Office of Admissions regional recruitment team as the Southeast Regional Recruiter.

Her time in the military was spent as a Paralegal and a Surgical Technician. She served two deployments to Iraq, is Airborne qualified, received an Expert Marksmanship badge, is a level three Combatives Instructor, and is now a disabled veteran. She spends her time now with her husband, four children and two pit bulls. She enjoys hanging out at the lake with her family, Marvel comics, Star Trek, singing random Disney songs and living sustainably. Her passion is assisting students find their educational goals by using the resources available to them. Her position with the university gives her a unique opportunity to do one of her favorite things —  helping others grow in knowledge, respect and individuality. Aliyah believes that every person has a purpose, and she wants to help them find that purpose through education. 

Palmer joined the 51�������� Admissions team in 2017, bringing over thirty years of admissions experience with him. He loves helping students by connecting them to resources that help them achieve their goals. Palmer is based in Vancouver, Washington, to better serve 51��������'s prospective undergraduate students in the Pacific Northwest. He also is the go-to person for students from much of the Eastern time zone.

Palmer's favorite things are traveling, going out to eat with his family, playing Words with Friends, watching Survivor, drinking Diet Pepsi and listening to podcasts about Disney World. He's lived in Michigan, California, Colorado, Oregon, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Washington!

He's a past president of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling and was MVP of his high school's junior varsity basketball team in 9th grade. He still has the trophy on his desk.

Casey was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and is a first-generation college student. Attending college was always a passion of hers and she went on to receive a BA in Communication Studies with a minor in Sociology at Loyola Marymount University. While in college, Casey became a Resident Advisor (RA), which ignited her passion to work in student affairs. She continued her education to receive an MS in College Counseling and Student Development at Azusa Pacific University. While in graduate school, she had the opportunity to work for various departments such as Alumni Engagement, Conference Services and Orientation. However, it wasn’t until after graduation that she landed a job as a Visit Coordinator at Whittier College and was introduced to the world of Admissions. Casey continues to be passionate about supporting students along their educational journeys and helping them to find the right fit.

Casey’s first trip to Alaska was in December 2023, when she experienced temperatures below zero for the very first time!  Little did she know, she would be back to join the 51�������� team in August 2024. Alaska’s undeniable beauty and welcoming community set it apart from any other place. She is eager to connect with students from the Lower 48 and Hawaii to share with them all that 51�������� has to offer.

Casey very much enjoys traveling, reading, walking around bookstores, drinking coffee, listening to the Hamilton soundtrack on repeat, going to Disneyland, listening to live music, playing volleyball, singing, playing board games and escape rooms, camping, watching reality love shows and scary movies, and spending time with her two Shih Tzus and fiancé.

Rebecca is a lifelong Alaskan who has a passion for building community and helping facilitate an authentic experience for visitors. She graduated from 51�������� with her bachelor's degree in 2012 and received her Masters in 2021 from the University of Alaska Southeast. When she's not working with 51�������� exchange students you can find her grinning and riding her bike across frozen, arctic swamps in search of a warm cabin.

Kristy is Koyukon Athabascan, originally from the village of Nulato where she grew up living a traditional and cultural lifestyle. The village of Nulato is located along the banks of the Yukon River approximately 350 air miles southwest of Fairbanks. 

Kristy is a 51�������� (51��������) alumni who graduated with a BA in Rural Development in 2000 and has also earned her Master’s of Public Administration degree from the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) in 2021.  

Kristy has worked at 51�������� in various positions since 2004 and has years of administrative and organizational experience. The most rewarding part of her job has been helping and supporting students throughout the years. As the Associate Director of Admissions, Kristy brings significant knowledge and understanding of rural Alaska and the surrounding areas.

Kristy enjoys hiking, picking berries and taking Alaskan adventures. 

Anna was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska. As an undergraduate student, she took advantage of an international student exchange program to spend a year in Lille, France where she spent a lot of time with a modern dance troupe. Upon her return in 2005, she arrived in Fairbanks as a transfer student and promptly fell in love with the people, personality and campus of 51��������.

Anna graduated from 51�������� in 2009 with a B.A. in Theater and History. She has worked at 51�������� since 2012, and she is very excited to work with prospective students to help them achieve their educational goals.

Outside of 51��������, Anna enjoys working on her small farm with her husband and children. Her family currently lives in an off-grid farmhouse, raising chickens, goats, bees and pigs. She loves coffee with a deep passion and at last count had six separate devices for making coffee in her home.