Our Team

Laura Zanotti, Purdue University, lzanotti@purdue.edu

Courtney and I became excited for work with community members during a 2009 visit. Several women and men we spoke to during that time, and in subsequent visits, talked about the importance of sharing stories of leadership and strength across generations. We continue to be guided by community members in our research process, and our goal is to generate materials for the IHLC, school district and other entities. I look forward to each visit, and love going out on tundra and beach walks, learning how to cut maktak or prepare niġliq soup, sharing cake and tea after a big meal, and spending time in the community. I received my PhD in Anthropology from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 2008. I joined the faculty at Purdue in 2009.

Courtney Carothers, University of Alaska Fairbanks, clcarothers@alaska.edu

I am an Associate Professor of Fisheries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I received my PhD in Anthropology from the University of Washington and shortly after joined the faculty at University Alaska Fairbanks in 2008. My research explores the close relationships that people and cultures have with fisheries and their lands and waters. I have been fortunate that my research has provided me opportunities to get to know several regions of Alaska – the Kodiak Archipelago, the Northwest Arctic Borough, and the North Slope. I first came to Barrow, as well as Nuiqsut, in 2009. I was studying local knowledge of fisheries at that time. Laura and I wanted very much wanted to develop a community-based project that would be of interest and use locally. We feel privileged to be able to learn so much from our community partners and research participants.

Sarah Huang, Purdue University, huang727@purdue.edu

I joined the Women and Men’s Leadership and Strength Project in 2014. As a project team member I am interested in the historical and cultural traditions of whaling and subsistence foods in the community. Throughout this project, I have been blessed to participate in Nalukataq and learn about the celebration of the spring whaling season as well as be a part of the community sharing of food. I have also been welcomed into homes and kitchens with warm hearts and warm ovens to learn how to fry Eskimo donuts and whale steak. I have been truly blessed to experience the cultural connections through Iñupiaq foods and families.

Charlotte Ambrozek, University of California Davis,
ceambrozek@ucdavis.edu

I actively participated in the Women’s and Men’s Leadership and Strength project from July 2015 to May 2016. The project allowed me to explore a deeper and different side of living well in Barrow. Through my time with the project I worked with Cooperative Extension at Ilisagvik College on cooking, nutrition, and finance focused wellness for families and future families. I continue to be inspired by the power of subsistence and traditional livelihoods and experiences in helping guide leaders and foster strength.

Charlene Apok,University of Alaska Fairbanks, crapok@alaska.edu

I joined the Women’s and Men’s Leadership and Strength project in 2014. It has been a special experience to work for and learn from the people in Barrow. I am thankful to be part of a project that is committed to being community based. As an Iñupiaq, it has been especially transformative to continually be immersed in cultural learning and practices while balancing and negotiating how research can serve and benefit our people. In this way, having a role as an indigenous scholar continues to be both challenging but equally rewarding.