WE ARE EDUCATORS
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Alaska EXCEL. I am inspired by the hundreds of junior high and high school students who have participated in the wide array of EXCEL sessions offered throughout the year.
For many students, it is the only chance they will have to participate in career tours, job shadows, navigate living in an urban setting, experience dorm life on a college campus, understand all of the post-secondary training options available, and participate in a short work internship prior to graduating from high school.
I invite you to reach out to our team to learn more about Alaska EXCEL and our current programs.
Respectfully,
Carol Wilson
Executive Director
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COLIN STEWART
EXCEL BOARD PRESIDENT
Instructional Administrator,
AVTEC
GRETCHEN SAGAN
EXCEL BOARD MEMBER
WAYNE MORGAN
EXCEL BOARD MEMBER
Aniak Traditional Council
MONICA WIEHL
EXCEL BOARD MEMBER
Arctic Education Foundation
PAYUK NAY
EXCEL BOARD TREASURER
BRENDA PACARRO
EXCEL BOARD MEMBER
Workforce and Shareholder
Development Supervisor,
Calista Corporation
VALLI PETERSON
EXCEL BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
ConocoPhillips
MEG SMITH
EXCEL BOARD MEMBER
Kinross Gold Corporation
SAM ROBERT BRICE
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
President,
Balista Holding LLC
SAMUEL REXFORD-BROWN
EXCEL BOARD SECRETARY
ASRC Energy Services, Corporate Offices
OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM
Carol Wilson
Executive Director
CAROL WILSON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Billijo Mills
Deputy Director
I was born and raised in Montana. I have lived and taught in Alaska , primarily rural Alaska, for 30+ years. My husband and I raised our two amazing sons inn Alaska. I have had the pleasure to help create and work for Alaska EXCEL from the beginning. It has been so important to me that all young people have the opportunity to experience relevant “Education for Life”. I am proud to say that Alaska EXCEL has helped many young Alaskans successfully prepare for their futures.
BILLIJO MILLS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Christa Wilson
Director of Finance and Administration
CHRISTA WILSON
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATION
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Tony Wilson
Principal of Programs
TONY WILSON
PRINCIPAL OF PROGRAMS
Tina Simpson
Business Office Manager
I am Tina Simpson, Office Manager for Alaska EXCEL. I have held this position for almost five years. Prior to being the Office Manager I was the cook for the program. It is such a wonderful experience and privilege to work with EXCEL students.
TINA SIMPSON
BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER
Jamie Klaes
Aviation Program Manager
Marketing Consultant
JAMIE KLAES
AVIATION PROGRAM MANAGER
MARKETING CONSULTANT
OUR SUPPORT TEAM
Carlene Liesch
Lead Foundational Instructor
I am from Tuluksak, Ak and am Yup'ik. This year will be my 8th year with EXCEL! I work with EXCEL because I really enjoy helping students from my region become successful young adults. I want to inspire them to pursue higher education and training to be productive members and leaders of society in their villages.
CARLENE LIESCH
LEAD FOUNDATIONAL
INSTRUCTOR
Emily Rickman
Student Services Manager
EMILY RICKMAN
STUDENT SERVICES
MANAGER
Tenecia Lockard
Behavioral Health Counselor
I was born and raised in Anchorage, and have been a practicing mental health and substance abuse clinician for over a decade in the community, serving Alaska’s most at risk and vulnerable youth. I came to Alaska EXCEL a year and a half ago to serve as the mental health clinician and instructor of social emotional curriculum offered to students. When I'm not helping young people chase their dreams and achieve success, I can be found most often in a youth basketball gym cheering loudly for my three adolescent boys and my coach of a husband.
TENECIA LOCKARD
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
COUNSELOR
Jessica Forsyth
Executive Assistant
I was born and raised in Kenai, AK. I have three beauiful children of my own. That is why I am so passionate about this job and making a difference in these young peoples lives.
JESSICA FORSYTH
EXECUTIVE
ASSISTANT
SARAH PULCINO
PHOTOGRAPHER
/MARKETING ASSISTANT
Sarah Ulroan
Facilitator / Dorm Parent
I am an indigenous ‘Cup'ik’ from Chevak, AK. I am the eldest out 5 children, I have it engrained in me to be a leader and to set a good example. I once was a former student with EXCEL for many years. I absolutely love this program and what they have to offer. My goal is to inspire and help the indigenous youth find their way into adult hood.
SARAH ULROAN
NIGHT CHAPERONE
Noah Ulroan
Night Chaperone
I am an indigenous ‘Cup'ik’ from Chevak, AK. I attended EXCEL for many years studying in Aviation to one day become a full time pilot. I love working for EXCEL because my goal is the help inspire other indigenous students, to believe that anything is possible through hard work and dedication.
NOAH ULROAN
NIGHT CHAPERONE
OUR INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM
Daniel Barton
Lead CTE Instructor
Originally from Arizona, I joined the EXCEL team in 2021. I enjoy all the fun, knowledge, and watching the students learn and grow.
DANIEL BARTON
LEAD CTE INSTRUCTOR
Ray Tubbs
Construction Instructor
I'm from Oregon and am a retired high school teacher of 32 years. I taught 10 years in the village of Kalskag. I have been teaching for EXCEL Alaska for 18 years. You can say that my passion is for teaching the youth.
Ray Tubbs
CARPENTRY INSTRUCTOR
Tia Harrison
Excel Instructor / Facility Maintenance
I was born and raised in Anchorage, AK
I work at EXCEL l because I wanted to be apart of the solution, be the change in children’s life. I love working with kids, from coaching to mentoring to all around being that person that they can turn to.
TIA
HARRISON
EXCEL INSTRUCTOR / EXCEL FACILITATOR
Ambriah Elsayyad
The best thing about being an Excel Instructor is helping students grow and get excited for their future. I am very passionate about teaching students that they can be anything and do anything they set their minds to. The possibilities are endless!
AMBRIAH ELSAYYAD
EXCEL INSTRUCTOR IN TRAINING
MARIA
STRICK
EXCEL FACILITATOR
KONRAD
KOSCIK
EXCEL FACILITATOR
Juan Gonzalez
Excel Facilitator
I am from Anaheim, CA and now call Anchorage, Alaska my home, after separating from the Army in 2015. Since 2019, I have been working with Alaskans regarding employment and training to obtain desired employment. Being an at-risk youth growing up I looked towards positive mentors to help me survive. Alaska Excel provides me an opportunity to give back to youth.
JUAN
GONZALEZ
EXCEL FACILITATOR
Jacqueline Yang
Excel Facilitator
I joined the Excel family as a facilitator a little over a year ago. I was born in Fresno, CA and moved to Alaska in 2005. I enjoy working for EXCEL because I like to watch my students grow and achieve success.
JACQUELINE
YANG
EXCEL FACILITATOR
Evelina Pavilla
Excel Facilitator
EVELINA
PAVILLA
EXCEL FACILITATOR
Kattie Hoeldt
Excel Instructor
I am from Aniak, Alaska. I have worked for Excel for 7 years now. before that I was a student with the program. I love to work for Excel because I want to help rural students get the same opportunities as urban students.
KATTIE
HOELDT
EXCEL INSTRUCTOR
Alastair Dunbar
EXCEL Facilitator
ALASTAIR
DUNBAR
EXCEL FACILITATOR
Michael Apperson
Excel Instructor in Training
I have worked full time for EXCEL since Fall of 2022 and Science camps starting in 2019. I am from Spokane, WA. I went to college at UAF. I work for EXCEL because I enjoy working with youth, helping them prepare for their future and the future of Alaskans.
