Our Team

Cama’i - Waqaa - Yagheli du!

Meet our staff.

  • Dr. Aleesha Ikayuk Towns-Bain

    PRESIDENT & CEO

    aleesha@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Angela Peacock

    VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT

    angela@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Kris Palmatier

    Kris Palmatier

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

    kris@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Emily Brockman

    DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

    emily@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Agatha Burton

    ACCOUNTANT

    agatha@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Destiny Key

    BOARD AND OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

    destiny@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Helen Panruk John

    BUBBLE PROGRAM MANAGER

    helen@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Joanie Fullwood

    SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANTS PROGRAM MANAGER

    joanie@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Marissa Naanaaruaq Vinberg

    TC2H CURRICULUM SPECIALIST

    marissa@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Dr. McKinley Alden

    TC2H PROGRAM MANAGER

    mckinley@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Miles King

    LEARNING INITIATIVES MANAGER

    miles@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Montana Qinuran Murphy

    BUBBLE PROGRAM COORDINATOR

    montana@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Robin McKnight

    COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

    robin@bristolbayfoundation.org

  • Tewosret Vaughn

    PUBLISHING PROJECT MANAGER

    tewosret@bristolbayfoundation.org

Bristol Bay Foundation Community Coordinators

Our Community Coordinators support the Teaching Culture, Honoring Heritage program in-region. Each Coordinator brings their own unique set of skills, crafts, and knowledge to their community, providing fun and engaging activities open to everyone throughout the school year.

Audrey Kosbruk

Pilot Point - based in Perryville

Lauren Seiter

Port Heiden

Amber Peterson- Tanuvasa

Chignik Lagoon

Kaylynn Hobson

Perryville

Our Stories

Miles King

Learning Initiatives Manager

My role focuses on developing sustainable, practical, and culturally relevant programs and resources that support Bristol Bay students and educators. From building place-based curriculum to supporting the Master’s of Education in Culturally Responsive Teaching program, my job is to uplift the next generation of Bristol Bay students by collaborating with regional school districts and building robust partnerships in region to strengthen education initiatives.

I love that my position with BBF allows me to give back to the place that made me who I am. My childhood in Naknek shaped every part of me and through BBF’s community-centered initiatives, I can create meaningful, positive changes in my home. As a former Bristol Bay student and classroom teacher, I understand the critical support role that organizations like BBF can play in regional education.

I love that the work is deeply rooted in community and relationships. Every project ultimately comes back to creating more opportunities for Bristol Bay people while helping sustain culture, language, and connection across generations. It feels meaningful to work in a space where education, cultural identity, and wellbeing are all connected rather than treated separately.

Emily Brockman

Director of Programs

My role focuses on helping develop and sustain programs that support educational success, cultural connection, and community wellbeing for the communities, students, and Elders of Bristol Bay. A large part of my work involves building partnerships, securing resources, and helping turn strategic goals into programs people can access and benefit from.

A really meaningful part of this work has been helping shape long-term initiatives that I believe will continue benefiting Bristol Bay communities well into the future. One recent moment is seeing the youth Togiak dancers shining at BBF’s first in-region Language Summit.

My favorite part of working for BBF is seeing how much pride and connection people feel when they engage with programs tied to culture, education, and community. Those moments make the work feel very real.

Robin McKnight

Communications Manager

My role as Communications Manager is to tell BBF’s story, to uplift the programs, initiatives, and partnerships that support our shareholders and descendants through storytelling and outreach. In this way, I am always working directly with the mission, finding that focal point in the work and highlighting the importance of what we do as an organization.

The best part of working for BBF is the people. I am so grateful for the relationships I have built during my short time at BBF and look forward to building more within Bristol Bay and beyond.

Marissa Naanaaruaq Vinberg

ANEP Curriculum Specialist

I love my job at BBF because I get to share my Sugpiaq culture and knowledge with others, I get to do work I’m passionate about, and I get to help encourage people from Bristol Bay to be proud of who they are, to learn about and share cultural knowledge, and to pursue educational pathways and careers that infuse who they are into their work.

My favorite moment working for BBF was during the Sugpiaq/Alutiiq Language Intensive in Naknek during BBRCTE Culture Week. Alutiiq speaker and mentor, Qangyuk/Natalia, and I, along with help from our two Elders Lena Anderson and Lucy Andrews, were able to assist the students in creating a new story song.

The story was gifted by Justin Zimin from Naknek, BBRCTE Cultural Programs Manager, about one of the first times he went out hunting on his own and the nervous excitement he felt that led to him missing the target the first couple times. The Alutiiq song and dance is a short song that tells that story in a fun and humorous way. The students all helped contribute to creating the lyrics, melody, and dance motions. The pride I saw instilled in the students in creating something for themselves and for our culture is why I love the work I get to do revitalizing Sugpiaq/Alutiiq culture, language, and dance.

Montana Qinuran Murphy

BUBBLE Program Coordinator

My role at BBF involves providing logistical support for cultural events, language classes, and learning materials, as well as connecting with partner organizations and collecting evaluation data for program analysis. Since I started with BBF, I have seen how our programs impact community members in the most profound ways. Some of my favorite moments have included seeing people receive their Native names, speak in their Native language for the first time, and learn traditional dances. It has been such a privilege to support work that connects people to who they are.