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ANHC Leadership Update - Kelsey Wallace named President and CEO
The Anchorage Chamber deeply values ANHC’s role as a cultural cornerstone in our community. We extend our heartfelt congratulations on the appointment of ANHC’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. This milestone marks not only a moment of leadership transition but also a powerful continuation of the Center’s mission — to preserve, strengthen, and celebrate the rich traditions, languages, and arts of Alaska’s Native peoples. We look forward to continued partnership in fostering connection, education, and inclusion for generations to come. 🌿🤝✨
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM ANHC PRESIDENT & CEO:
I am honored to share an exciting new chapter for the Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) and the community we serve. After an extensive national search with more than 118 applicants, the ANHC Board of Directors unanimously selected me to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer.
ANHC’s mission is to preserve and strengthen the traditions, languages, and arts of Alaska’s Native peoples through statewide collaboration, celebration, and education. I step into this role with immense gratitude for those who have come before me -- for our Elders, youth, culture bearers, and loved ones whose guidance and care continue to shape my path and purpose.
Before we send out an official notice to the press, I’m reaching out to personally to thank you, our community of partners, donors, and supporters, for your continued investment in ANHC. Quyana cakneq (Thank You Very Much, in Yugtun) for walking beside us. Together, we carry this vital work forward.
My journey with ANHC began as an intern, learning alongside mentors and Elders who taught me the responsibility we hold in perpetuating Alaska’s Native cultures. Over the years, I have served in every tier of leadership at ANHC: intern, coordinator, manager, director, and most recently as Vice President of Strategic Advancement and Communications. In that role, I helped guide strategic growth, led the Center’s first comprehensive rebrand, secured millions in transformational funding, and supported capital initiatives that broaden our reach and deepen our service to community.
Yupiugua, Yugcetun Ciugutnguuga. I am Yup’ik, and my name is Ciugun, a name I carry with deep respect and gratitude. Originally from Mamterilleq (Bethel), Alaska, I am a Calista Corporation shareholder and a tribal member of Orutsararmiut Native Council. I hold a B.A. in Rural Development with a concentration in Indigenous Organizational Management and a minor in Yugtun Language. I am bilingual in Yugtun (Yup’ik Language) and English. As a mother and the first in my family to revitalize Yup’ik dance, my upbringing grounds my leadership and reminds me to meet every member of our community where they are, from birth to ancestor.
I am honored to introduce ANHC’s Board Chair, Tiffany Tutiakoff (Yup’ik and Dena’ina), President and CEO of Future Elder. Tiffany is a respected Alaska Native leader and advocate for culture, education, and community partnership. She brings a wealth of experience in strategic communications and Indigenous storytelling, and her leadership reflects a deep commitment to uplifting our peoples and fostering collective growth. Together, we are dedicated to strengthening governance, deepening relationships, and guiding ANHC’s long-term vision and impact with care.
Our momentum is strong and steady. It is grounded in the teachings of our Elders: respect, generosity, reciprocity, and responsibility to future generations. We are committed to an accessible, living ANHC that reflects the beauty and diversity of our peoples. Guided by ancestral wisdom, we invest in our people and advance community-guided innovation. We share who we are with the world and look forward to strengthening relationships and creating new partnerships. This is a momentous time in ANHC’s history, and we are grateful you are part of it.
A formal press release will be distributed today, along with social media announcements and updates on our website. Please feel free to reach out directly to me if you would like to connect or share your ANHC story, I would love to hear from you!
Lastly, your continued support creates pathways for success, opportunity, and real impact. My own journey, as the first ANHC intern to President and CEO, reflects what is possible when we nurture, invest in, and believe in one another.
Take great care and know that I truly look forward to this next chapter together!
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Kelsey Ciugun Wallace President and CEO
- October 13, 2025
