Board of Directors
2023-2024
Marcy Herman, President
Cook Inlet Tribal Council
Board Seat: At Large
Marcy Herman grew up in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Marcy in now the Director of Strategic Projects & Initiatives at Cook Inlet Tribal Council. She graduated from the University of Alaska Southeast with a Bachelor’s in Business Management. After graduating high school and attending college, Marcy moved to Juneau with her family and lived there while raising her family. While in Juneau, Marcy served as the Director of Development at a local 8(a) construction firm as well as the Legislative Liaison at the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development for 10 years. During her time at the department, she was part of the team that helped pass legislation establishing the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS). In addition to the APS legislation, Marcy oversaw the Governor’s legislative agenda around education under three Commissioners. In 2019, she returned to her hometown of Anchorage to be closer to her parents. At CITC Marcy is currently working on a grant with DEED to explore culturally relevant ways to remove barriers in education for Alaska Native and American Indian students and expanding the Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) to a Super FabLab that will include expanded youth programs, entrepreneurship, and a community maker space. Marcy is passionate about education and students. She is interested in student outcomes and helping learners to follow their passion beyond K12 education.
Kate Hillenbrand, Vice President-Past President
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Board Seat: Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Kate Hillenbrand is a longtime supporter of postsecondary education and access, and has been an AlaskaCAN member since its inception in 2015. Growing up in Massachusetts, Kate moved to Alaska in 2005 and has been grateful and fortunate to call this beautiful land her home ever since. After moving to Alaska, Kate held positions at public and private postsecondary institutions, with responsibilities and oversight in admissions, recruiting, marketing, strategic planning, and change management. Currently, Kate serves as the Director of Communications & Outreach for ACPE and was appointed to the ACPE seat on the AlaskaCAN Board of Directors in early 2020. Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alaska Southeast, Kate is committed to the mission of AlaskaCAN in building and strengthening partnerships to increase the percentage of Alaskans completing postsecondary education.
Angela Peacock, Treasurer
Bristol Bay Foundation
Board Seat: Vocational/Tribal
Angela Peacock is Bristol Bay Foundation’s Deputy Director, whose mission is to provide support for Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) shareholders to pursue educational opportunities, and to promote and preserve cultural heritage. Angela currently lives and works in Anchorage, Alaska. She is Yupik Eskimo and grew up around the Bristol Bay Region living in Twin Hills, Aleknagik, Togiak, Manokotak and Dillingham, Alaska. Angela is married to Noyuk Peacock and has three children, Camryn, Aviana, and Fin. Angela’s background reflects over eighteen years of experience working in the nonprofit sector; she has established a reputation facilitating programs working with Alaska Native Youth to better direct services to support students and connecting them to their future through job training, education, and guidance. Prior to her current role, Angela worked at Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) where she managed daily youth operations; developing, planning, and monitoring of youth opportunities programs and directly worked with staff overseeing numerous program budgets daily for operation. Angela also collected necessary data, maintained and managed the electronic information for grants management and documented program updates as needed for reporting quarterly updates to grantors. Angela completed the Foraker Group’s Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Foraker is a recognized organization that provides guidance to nonprofits. Angela is a graduate of Bristol Bay Native Corporation’s Training Without Walls Program, designed for emerging leaders and she also participated and completed Cook Inlet Tribal Council’s PLANT program, a year and a half leadership program for promoting employee development. Angela recently served on the Johnson O’Malley Parent Committee where she successfully completed a three year term as secretary. The JOM committee met quarterly and discussions and decisions were made on where funds of discretionary grants from the Bureau of Indian Affairs would be delegated to with all of these funds supporting Alaska Native and American Indian Youth K-12 in the Anchorage School District.
Amy Bristor, Secretary
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Board Seat: Postsecondary Education
Amy Bristor has over 20 years of experience in student services at the post-secondary level with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Areas of experience include working in the realm of career and technical education in promoting occupational endorsements through associate degrees, Tech Prep, professional development and continuing education units, admissions, scholarships, and advising. Currently, she is focused on dual enrollment as the coordinator of the Alaska Advantage program which is a virtual middle college model for students around the state of Alaska. Her passion lies in helping students find the program or educational journey that works for them, as well as coaching students and families through the web that navigating post-secondary education can sometimes feel like.
Kacey Miller
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Board Seat: Rural Alaska
Kacey was raised in Dillingham and has lived and worked in Nome, Alaska the past 21 years. Kacey is UAF’s College of Rural and Community Development Student Services Director and is a founding AlaskaCAN Board of Director and active member since 2013. Her professional experience and expertise have fostered formation of several long standing successful regional postsecondary working groups and workforce development initiatives. Her career has focused on developing rural student success strategies, secondary exposure experiences, and regionally relevant credential and workforce development opportunities. Kacey’s extensive network of nonprofit, tribal, workforce, and academic connections across Alaska brings energy to the Alaska Postsecondary Access & Completion Network and AlaskaCAN’s purpose and priorities. With increased shipping activity and resource development targeted at rural regions across the state, local dialogue and coordination must include local, tribal and regionally relevant training priorities and hiring preferences. Kaceys historical, postsecondary and rural perspective strengthens AlaskaCAN’s initiatives and pursuit in reaching a statewide 65% postsecondary credential goal.
Leslie Vines
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Board Seat: State Agency
Leslie A. Vines, born and raised in Butler, Alabama, moved to Anchorage in 1995. Early on, Leslie’s career path focused on social reform of low-income or socially disadvantaged adults, youth, and children. In 2001, Leslie began her career in the nonprofit sector with Nine Star Education and Employment Services, and her passion for improving opportunities for all people ignited. Throughout her 20-year nonprofit career, Leslie has leveraged her keen knowledge of programs and policies to provide professional development and community building to thousands of individuals in our community. Leslie’s passion for advocating for access to social programs for the vulnerable populations has afforded her the opportunity to train and engage some of the best-known nonprofits, Nine Star, YWCA, Campfire, Easter Seals and state department. She also has experience working with women who are survivors of physical, mental, and financial abuse. Leslie received her B.A. in Human Services minor in Business Studies from Wayland Baptist University. She also holds a master’s in human resource management, specializing in Organizational Development Wayland Baptist University. Since COVID-19, Leslie has developed a passion for cross country skiing and biking, while spending time with her three daughters, granddaughter. and dog, Buddy.
Jamie Klaes
Alaska EXCEL
Board Seat: Community Org/Non-Profit
Jamie Klaes is an Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor. Employed at local nonprofit, Alaska EXCEL. Jamie has over 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, with the past five focusing on assisting rural Alaskan youth with their career goals. Born and raised in rural Alaska, Jamie specializes in the mentorship of rural Alaskan youth ages 15 to 24. Her avenue to a professional career was nontraditional, she believes in encouraging youth to seek out their individual paths based on their needs, unique personality and skill set. Jamie uses her experience to cultivate confidence and employability skills. Working as a pilot in remote areas of Alaska, and most recently flying for a local medevac company Jamie shares her knowledge of the aviation industry and all the careers available. Jamie has created introductory programs and entry level certificates for students to gain confidence to start their career into the aviation industry.
Amanda Triplett
University of Alaska Southeast
Board Seat: Postsecondary Student Services
Working for the University of Alaska Southeast, Amanda has been helping students and families navigate postsecondary pathways for over 15 years. In her current role as an academic advisor, she works primarily with incoming first time freshmen, dual enrollment and other non-degree seeking students, many of whom are first generation college students or from underrepresented and underserved populations. In addition to advising, Amanda spent many years working in the registrar’s office and in the office of admissions which allowed her to see the student cycle from start to finish, identify pain points, and help remove institutional barriers for students. Originally from a small farm town in Ohio, Amanda moved to Juneau to attend UAS where she completed her BLA and is currently in the final stages of her MPA. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys going on adventures with her family, foraging in the woods for mushrooms, berries and other treats, watching hockey, and spending time at their cabin on Shelter Island.
Amber Cartier
ABC of Alaska
Board Seat: Registered Apprenticeship
My name is Amber Cartier. I am the Director of Apprenticeship with ABC of Alaska, a non-union registered apprenticeship program and am applying for the Registered Apprenticeship Board position. I am a lifelong Alaskan with no plans to leave this wonderful state. I attended UAA and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997. My family enjoys the many outdoor activities Alaska has to offer such as camping, hunting, and hockey, just to name a few. I grew up in a trade family, my father was a heavy equipment operator and my mother advocated for AGC and retired from Local 302. I have been with ABC of Alaska since September 2015 and have a passion for getting our young and sometimes not-so-young Alaskans into the workforce with on-the-job training and related instruction through our apprenticeship program. Holding a seat on the AlaskaCAN board will not only help ABC of Alaska better understand the needs of the communities we serve but will also help us equip our members and apprentices to meet those needs. I believe it is important for students and even adult learners to know and educate themselves about the many options other than college as a post-secondary choice to start a meaningful and rewarding career. Reaching the students of Alaska and teaching them about the many Alaskan-based registered apprenticeships will only help to keep growing our own workforce.