Anchorage, Alaska (July 11, 2022) – The Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) board and staff are pleased to announce the hire of Kelsey Ciugun Wallace (Yup’ik) as Director of Development and Communications.
“We are thrilled to have Kelsey back at ANHC as our new Development and Communications Director,” said Emily Edenshaw, ANHC President and CEO. “Kelsey brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, creativity, and passion that will help ANHC grow in new and exciting ways in benefit to our community, state, and nation.”
As Director of Development and Communications, Wallace will advance the mission and vision of ANHC by developing and implementing all internal and external corporate communications, fundraising, donor stewardship, marketing and public relations strategies. As a member of the ANHC leadership team, Wallace is responsible for raising funds to support ANHC’s financial goals and building relationships with individuals and organizations to secure philanthropic support, as well as designing, planning and overseeing vital revenue streams which will allow ANHC to achieve our mission and maximize impact in the community.
Kelsey is originally from Mamterilleq (Bethel), Alaska located on the Kuskokwim River. Her maternal grandparents are the late Tsaliaq Moses Mojin and Ciukaq Mary Mojin of Nunapitchuk and her paternal grandparents are the late Shirley and John Wallace of Wisconsin. Wallace is the daughter of John Wallace and Sheila Cingarkaq Wallace of in Bethel, Alaska. Wallace is a mother of two, Kiah Cingarkaq and Jack Tsaliaq, who are the source of her inspiration and passion in life. Kelsey obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Rural Development with a concentration in Indigenous Organizational Management and a Yugtun language minor. Since graduating from UAF, Wallace has worked within the communications sector for nearly a decade after first starting her career at ANHC. Most recently, she was the communications director for Native Peoples Action where she served as part of the leadership team to ensure Alaska Native voices are heard in decision-making spaces. Outside of work and volunteer opportunities, Wallace is most often found making a big pot of moose soup to share among family and friends or making time for movement and wellness with her children.“I am incredibly honored and energized to return ‘home’ to the Alaska Native Heritage Center,” said Kelsey Ciugun Wallace, ANHC Development and Communications Director. “I look forward to working alongside our staff, board and community to further advance the mission and vision of the Center – a true place of home for many. Together we are perpetuating thriving peoples, cultures, languages and art for generations to come.”
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a nonprofit organization that preserves and strengthens the traditions, languages and art of Alaska’s Native People through statewide collaboration, celebration and education.
8800 Heritage Center Drive, Anchorage Alaska, 99504 | www.alaskanative.net | 907-330-8000
