Board
The Board of Directors for Alaska Center for the Environment
Alaska Center for the Environment's Board of Directors
Karol Fink, President
MS, RD (Registered
Dietitian)
Karol's first memory
of environmental action was the implementation of curbside recycling in her
hometown. Recycling educators came to her Third grade classroom to teach
about what, how and why one should recycle. Karol was convinced it was
her social responsibility to protect the environment by recycling and became a
household dumpster diver by the age of 8.
Her other volunteer board
memberships include the Alaska Public Health Association, the Mount Marathon
Race committee, and Safehaven Corporation.
She enjoys running trails,
especially around Seward, playing soccer, and cooking healthy meals.
Martha Levensaler, Vice President
State Board Effectiveness Director / League of Conservation Voters
Martha came to Alaska to help clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill, thinking that she would only stay three months. But she fell in love and has now kicked around the Alaska environmental scene for close to twenty years. She worked at National Wildlife Federation (NWF) for twelve years on both issues work and capacity building for the environmental community.
She has served on several environmental NGO boards, including Alaska Conservation Alliance, Alaska Conservation Voters and now, Alaska Center for the Environment. Martha presently works for the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) in the division that provides services to the state conservation voter leagues around the country. Martha’s specialty at LCV is to provide services the state leagues board of directors.
Denice Elison, Treasurer
CPA
Denice
grew up in Pennsylvania and first came to Alaska in 1972 when her
husband was assigned to the navy base on Adak. Since that time she has
lived on Adak and Amchitka, in King Salmon, Fairbanks and Anchorage.
Having lived in so many parts of the state has enabled her to
experience first hand the wonders of our beautiful state and instilled
a strong desire to protect its environment.
Denice first became aware of ACE when two summer canvas staffers
knocked on her door. She was very excited about the grass roots efforts
to make recycling a priority in the community. Her son then
participated in Trailside Discovery with a fantastic experience sea
kayaking in Tutka Bay.
In January 2008 she joined the ACE board. As a certified public
accountant Denice brings to our board financial expertise. She likes to
spend her free time hiking, rafting, sea kayaking, fishing and cross
country skiing.
Nancy Tankersley, Secretary
M.S. Wildlife Biology, Certified Interpretive Guide and Trainer
Nancy Tankersley discovered a love of wildlife in college after sneaking through the woods to spy on a nesting pair of pileated woodpeckers with birdwatching friends. She changed her major from math to conservation of natural resources, started recycling, and competed an M.S. in wildlife management at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
She has worked as a wildlife biologist for state and federal agencies in Alaska for 25 years. In the last 5 years, she has combined her love of conservation, environmental education, and the outdoors by being a naturalist guide on 8-11 day eco-tours in Alaska's backcountry.
Nancy has two daughters who enjoyed being Trailside Discovery campers, and are now both outdoors enthusiasts. She wants to keep Alaska clean, green and wild for her future grandchildren.
Anne Gore
Anne Gore has been working with non-profit conservation organizations for more than 15 years, primarily in marketing, communications and fundraising capacities. She earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.S. from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. She also began coursework towards a PhD in environmental history at Georgetown University, but changed her plans and moved to Alaska.
Anne has been in Alaska since 2002 and is a freelance writer and independent consultant focused on using science to help raise awareness of the value and vulnerability of Alaska's wild places.
Anne enjoys skiing, running, bicycling and anything that gets her outdoors, especially in big mountains and wilderness.
Brendan Babb
Clare Stockert
Development Director, Anchorage Public Library.
Clare spent over 5 years in fundraising and outreach at Alaska Center for the Environment, most recently as the assistant director. Before she discovered ACE, Clare worked in a number of Alaskan trades throughout the state, including plant virology research with the USDA in Palmer, customer service for Gray Line in Skagway, and processing cod in Seward. She has a BA in biochemistry and molecular biology from Reed College in Portland, OR.
Clare lives by the principle that if you are not working to solve the problem, you are part of the problem, and has dedicated countless hours to assisting local nonprofits. Her volunteer passion is developing the capacity of local organizations and helping individuals get involved in their community. In her spare time, she enjoys cross-country skiing, skijoring, bike touring and playing soccer.
Carole Holley
Co-Director, Alaska Program for Pacific Environment
Carole co-directs the Alaska Program for Pacific Environment (PE), working to keep the environment clean for the people and wildlife of the Arctic Slope. Prior to her work with PE, Carole was an attorney working on indigenous issues. Before law school, Carole ran the Environmental Program for the Louden Tribal Council in Galena, Alaska focusing on federal facilities clean-up, waste management issues, and protection of subsistence foods.
Carole has lived in Peru and Switzerland and traveled extensively throughout South America and Europe, splitting her time between studying international environmental legal challenges and leading outdoor trips and community service projects for youth.
Carole first discovered ACE when she volunteered for the Annual Spring Auction in 2007. Since that time she's been intrigued and excited about ACE's work to protect our local environment. In Carole's free time, she enjoys running and hiking with her dogs.
Valerie Waldrop
Valerie received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Colorado State University. During her college years, she was a leader in the Colorado Public Interest Research Group (CoPIRG) where she served as State Chairperson and also organized the first Fort Collins Earth Day Fair - an event that is still going strong 20 years later! For over ten years, she worked as an instructor and course director for Colorado Outward Bound, a wilderness leadership school. She has also guided students in Nepal, Tibet, Mexico, and Italy.
Valerie moved to Anchorage five years ago and has stayed busy raising her two boys and completing an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Western Michigan University. Valerie has been a supporter of ACE since moving to Alaska and has also volunteered for the organization before becoming a board member in January of 2010.
Shannon Kuhn
Communications and Development Director
Shannon is the Communications Development Director for the Anchorage Park Foundation and holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana. Shannon is passionate about sustainable community development and working on environmental issues through a social justice lens. She has been a US delegate to Japan regarding climate change, studied environmental justice issues in Guatemala, wilderness leadership in New Zealand, and food policy in Washington, D.C. Shannon was born on the coast of South Korea and grew up in Anchorage's Chugach Mountains. She is excited to be on the ACE Board and help protect Alaskan's rich quality of life and natural environment. Shannon loves exploring wild places, gardening, and creative cooking.
