A nontraditional sequence characterizes my career path. Despite my life experience and work history, one thread always remained as I finally determined the direction I would take in my studies; my intention to protect the Arctic. My early adult years were spent commercial fishing in the salmon and longline fisheries, which began to develop my understanding of the connections between people and the ecosystem services provided by our surroundings here in Alaska. It also became quite apparent to me that commercial fisheries require more regulation, not only in Alaska but globally.

     When I left the coastal town of Kodiak bound for the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), I had a vision, but one that I could not fulfill through the local university. I instead embarked upon my first career, raising my two boys. My upbringing, coming from an “off the grid” lifestyle, created self-determination to gather, grow, hunt, and fish to provide for my family. In time we reclaimed a long-standing family business and my family has continued to connect the public with the subarctic outdoor experience as CanoeAlaska. These close connections to my surroundings fostered a desire to contribute to safeguarding the rapidly changing Arctic.  

     Upon returning to UAF, I chose to create an interdisciplinary degree that would meet my needs in bridging science and Arctic Policy. To follow my graduation, the submission of my Observing for Action: A Narrative and Subarctic Alaska Changes in Cloud Cover awarded me a voice in my first Arctic-focused event, the Arctic Observing Summit 2020. It allowed for me to represent my citizen scientist point of view while balancing the Observing in Support of Adaptation and Mitigation working group. As COVID had it, we would not be in attendance for AOS2020 which was to be held in Akureyri, Iceland, and so came about, the first virtual AOS. I continued to exercise my hand in Arctic Policy research by writing a briefer for the Arctic Institute when I was welcomed into the Spring College 2021 Maritime Security-Ocean Economy and Governance working group.

     I decided to further my Arctic Policy studies, leave my family for the year, and pursue my master’s degree in Polar Law at The University of Akureyri, Iceland. Perseverance culminated in my acceptance into the Polar Law program, which is known for its reputation for excellence and vigor and has prepared me with the appropriate knowledge base in the various subjects of Polar Law. My ability to rapidly learn the science, policy, and legislative landscape surrounding Arctic climate change impacts and the complex web of circumpolar fora addressing these issues has been sharpened by the focus on polar-centric studies.