ANSI Leadership
Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Women Guiding Our Universities
These Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Women lead the Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Success Initiative at our Universities and System Office:
Action Team Lead: UAA
UAA Executive Director of Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Education and Outreach
Action Team Lead: UAF
UAF Associate Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education
Dr. Jessica Black is Gwich’in from the villages of Gwichyaa Zhee (Ft. Yukon) and Toghotthele (Nenana), Â鶹´«Ã½. Dr. Black currently serves as an Associate Vice Chancellor and Associate Professor in the College of Rural and Community Development at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ Fairbanks. Dr. Black received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) at UAF and her master’s degree and PhD in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Her dissertation and current research examine the relationship between governance and well-being among Â鶹´«Ã½ Native peoples, especially as it pertains to Tribal Stewardship and Cultural Connectivity.
As Associate Vice Chancellor of CRCD Dr. Black helps to elevate and support the work of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Success Initiative, the building out of the Indigenous Studies Center, and the priorities of the Vice Chancellor of CRCD.
In September 2023, the Unviersity of Â鶹´«Ã½ Foundation Board of Directors awarded Dr. Black the 2023 Bullock Prize in recognition of her service to the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ system. The Bullock Prize is awarded annually to a member of the university community in recognition that a truly great university grows as a result of personal commitments to excellence. The Prize is the most prestigious award presented by the UA Foundation each year.
Jessica resides in Fairbanks, Â鶹´«Ã½ with her family, however, she frequently returns home to Gwichyaa Zhee to hunt, fish, gather and engage in other, important cultural practices.
Action Team Lead: UAS
UAS Associate Vice Chancellor for Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Programs & Director, PITAAS
Senior Advisor: ANSI
UA Chief Human Resources Officer & Senior Advisor for the Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Success Initiative
Dahl previously served as the Senior Director of Human Resources and Administration at Koniag, Inc, the Â鶹´«Ã½ regional corporation serving the Kodiak Island area. She also held HR leadership positions at the Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Tribal Health Consortium, The Aleut Corporation, and First Â鶹´«Ã½ns Institute.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree from UAA, she holds a master’s in human resources management from the Keller Graduate School of Management at Devry University and PHR (Professional in Human Resources) certification. She is Â鶹´«Ã½ Native and a Shareholder of The Aleut Corporation. She was born and raised in Sand Point, Â鶹´«Ã½. She is the daughter of Steve and Sharon Hakala and Stanley Mack of Sand Point.
Senior Director, Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Success and Partnerships
University of Â鶹´«Ã½, System Office
UAA alumna Kristel Komakhuk was selected to serve as the system’s Senior Director of Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Success and partnerships. Starting December 4, 2023 Komakhuk is based in Anchorage, and committed to annually travels to Fairbanks and other locations around Â鶹´«Ã½. In this role, she will help to guide and support the implementation of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Success Initiative (ANSI) Strategic Plan. She will also focus on strengthening relationships between UA and Â鶹´«Ã½ Native partners.
Kristel is of Alutiiq and Inupiaq descent, and was born and raised in Anchorage on Dena’ina Athabascan land. Her maternal family is from Tatitlek, and her paternal family is from the Nome area; her Grandma would identify from her home fish camp in Solomon. A first-generation graduate on both sides of her family, she is a proud UA alum, holding a B.B.A. in Business Management from UAA.
Prior to joining UA, Kristel worked at the Â鶹´«Ã½ Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) as the APU Senior Liaison for Development and External Relationships. In that role, she aided APU in its journey toward indigenization by developing and maintaining relationships, and liaising with external entities. She’s also served on Shell Exploration & Production Company’s stakeholder management team, and as the Development Director at First Â鶹´«Ã½ns Institute. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, traveling, reading, cooking, yoga, and appreciating Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s beauty on hikes and walks.