Meet the Research Team
Felicia Ayagarak-Ulroan
Felicia Ayagarak-Ulroan, of Cup’ik descent, was born in Anchorage and raised in Chevak. She attended Alaska Job Corps for a year and a half and graduated from the office administration training program. She started working with SCF through the Administrative Support Training Program in 2018 and is now with the Research department as a program coordinator. Currently, she is attending the University of Alaska Anchorage and pursuing a degree in computer systems and network technology. Felicia loves the color teal and dogs. During her free time, she loves to go camping, enjoys long drives, and finding the perfect picture.
Julie A. Beans, MPH
Julie Beans was born in Anchorage and raised on the Lower Yukon in St. Mary’s and Pilot Station and on the Oneida Nation reservation in Wisconsin. She is Yup’ik (Yupiit of the Andreafski) and Oneida from Wisconsin. She has a research background in toxicology, analytical chemistry, and genetics research support. At SCF, Julie has worked on a wide range of research projects covering topics including diabetes, chronic illness, pharmacogenetics, and suicide. She is involved with SCF Research projects on many levels, including grant writing support, data collection, data management, data analysis, results dissemination, and study coordination. Julie enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, road trips and reading. View Beans’ Curriculum Vitae
JBruce Crow
JBruce is originally from Bethel, Alaska. His father’s side of the family is Yup’ik Eskimo and his mother’s side of the family is Pribilof Aleut (Unangax). JBruce originally took an interest in research while studying political science at Fort Lewis Liberal Arts College in Durango, Colorado. His interests include hunting, fishing, and riding single track on his bike.
Elsa George
Elsa George is Yup’ik raised along the Kuskokwim in Akiachak. She has been with SCF since 2022. Elsa has an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and has partially completed a Bachelor of Science in environmental science, which she hopes to resume soon. She participated in a research internship on the Canada goose with Haskell Indian Nations University. Elsa will primarily be assisting researchers with recruitment and data collection. She loves spending time with her family, traveling, food, cooking/baking, beading, fishing, berry picking, and attending powwows.
Tara Gillen
Tara Gillen, of Athabascan, Russian, and Black Irish descent, was born and raised in Anchorage. She joined SCF’s Finance department in 2016 and held the role of accounts payable technician for more than six years. Tara has three adult children and one grandson who she enjoys spending time with. She can be found spending time outdoors with family and friends.
Tiffany Guinn
Tiffany Guinn was born and raised in Bethel, Alaska. She is Yup’ik Eskimo, a member of the Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council, and shareholder of Calista Corporation.
She joined SCF in 2004, and after pursuing her masters’ degree in England, she returned in 2009 as an improvement specialist for the Behavioral Services Division before transitioning to program evaluation in 2018. Tiffany supports grants, research, and internally funded programs on topics such as cancer screening, suicide prevention, laboratory, and more.
She is experienced in mixed-methods evaluations and developing unique data collection tools. Tiffany is passionate about internal evaluation and honoring the customer-owners by ensuring evaluations are inclusive, equitable and come from Indigenous methodologies.
Kelley J. Jansen, LPC, MAC
Kelley Jansen is Unangax and an enrolled member of Ninilchik Tribe. She was raised in the greater Seattle area and comes from a multi-generational commercial fishing family with deep roots in Alaska. Kelley began working at SCF in 2011 in the Behavioral Services Division. She is a licensed professional counselor and a nationally credentialed addictions counselor. Kelley has clinical experience in treating substance use and mental health disorders. In addition, she has a research background in substance misuse treatment, tobacco cessation, suicide prevention, and other health-related topics. Kelley and her husband live in Anchorage with their son and dogs. View Jansen’s Curriculum Vitae
Roxanna King, PhD
Roxanna King grew up along the Newaukum River in Onalaska, Washington. She is mixed descent with an English, Scottish, Irish, Welsch, German, Italian, Lakota, Danish, and Iranian/Persian heritage. Roxanna has a PhD in cultural/medical anthropology, and her research interests include diet, nutrition, traditional ecological knowledge, epidemiology, health care decision-making, and resilience in Native communities. She recently moved to Anchorage to join the SCF team and is very passionate about reducing health disparities in Native communities. In her free time, Roxanna enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, and anything to do with cats. View King’s Curriculum Vitae
Anjali Madeira, APRN CNM DNP MPH FACNM
Anjali Madeira began her research career in the biological sciences, but quickly pivoted to public health. After spending two years in rural India working with community midwives, her passion for women’s health emerged. Anjali’s past projects range from respectful maternity care in Thai refugee camps to group prenatal care for Somali immigrants. She has been a midwife at SCF since 2018 and is deeply honored to serve the Alaska Native Community. Anjali lives with her husband, parents, three kids, two bunnies, 10 chickens, and various other insects with one wing who could not easily escape the eager clutches of her budding zoologists. View Madeira’s Curriculum Vitae
Shannon Medlock
Shannon Medlock is a member of the Cherokee Nation and was raised in the Anchorage area for most of her childhood. She attended the University of Alaska Anchorage where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and master’s degree in biological sciences with a focus on host-microbe interactions. Shannon lives in Anchorage with her fiancé, three teenage children, and their dog. Her favorite summer activities include gardening, camping, hiking, and enjoying all the wonderful Alaskan summer activities with her family. In winter Shannon can be found knitting or reading by the fireplace while avoiding the cold. View Medlock’s Curriculum Vitae
Ryan Mortenson, MBA
Ryan Mortenson is of Yup’ik descent and grew up in Bethel, Alaska. He holds an associate degree focused on small business administration, a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in management and marketing, and a Master of Business Administration in management. Ryan has held various positions in family medicine, community health, and OB-GYN in the Tribal health care system. He has supported basic science research in hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and palliative care. Ryan is a doctoral candidate studying business in health care strategy. He enjoys an active lifestyle, exploring new cities, is a stocks/ investment aficionado, and a car enthusiast.
Cyndi Navarrette
Cyndi Navarrette has been the Research supervisor since 2021. She previously worked in two divisions: Executive and Tribal Services and Finance. She has her bachelor’s degree in organizational management and an associate degree in accounting. Cyndi is Yupik and Irish, raised in Aniak. Her grandmother, Mary Morgan is of Yup’ik descent from Kipnuk and her grandfather, Mathias Morgan, of Irish descent, was a mail runner on the Kuskokwim. Charles and Grace Bender, Cyndi’s parents, were proud owners of Bender’s Bed and Breakfast in Aniak. Cyndi is currently enjoying life as a grandmother to five grandchildren. View Navarrette’s Curriculum Vitae
Michelle Oliveira
Michelle Oliveira, of Brazilian decent, is originally from the East Coast. She is new to Alaska but has enjoyed driving all over the state to chase sunsets and sunrises. Michelle majored in biology with a concentration in health sciences. She has worked an array of jobs including opportunities as a pharmacy technician, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service communication specialist, and Boston Children’s and Beth Israel neonatal intern. Michelle loves to learn, explore, and paint. She has two pups and a parakeet that are like The Three Stooges. Michelle is very excited to be a part of the Research team.
Aliassa L. Shane, MPH
Aliassa Shane is Shoshone-Paiute and Unangax̂. She was born in Boise, Idaho, and grew up near San Diego, California, while her father served in the U.S. Marines. She moved to Alaska in 2015 to be closer to her Unangax̂ family after graduating from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in American Indian Studies. Aliassa joined SCF Research in 2016 as a program coordinator while attending graduate school. Since joining the department, she received her master’s in public health from University of Alaska Anchorage. Aliassa’s hobbies include buying earrings, going to concerts, fishing, and berry picking.
Devon T. Sigourney
Devon Sigourney is of Athabascan descent and was born on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and raised in Anchorage. He graduated from Bartlett High School in 2016. Devon started working for SCF in 2017 through the Administrative Support Training Program. Since joining the Research team, Devon has worked on multiple projects assisting with recruitment and data collection, processing specimens in the lab, as well as, working on his regular administrative duties. He is close to his family and enjoys spending his free time with them. Devon enjoys soccer, traveling, going to the movies, and finding the perfect shoes.
Barbara Sikvayugak
Barbara Sikvayugak is of Inupiaq descent. She is from Anaktuvuk Pass and Utqiagvik. Barbara was born in Fairbanks, raised in Anaktuvuk Pass, and then moved to Utqiagvik until she was a teenager. Now she resides in Anchorage and is currently attending the University of Alaska Southeast to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in social science with concentrations in psychology, sociology, and economics. Barbara loves reading, going to the gym, and traveling with her partner.
Dana Sundet
Dana Sundet is American Indian and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She was raised in Oregon and has lived in Anchorage since 2014. Dana holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration and is currently working on her Master of Business Administration. Prior to joining SCF, Dana served in a variety of operational leadership roles. At SCF, she has worked in Human Resources and Organizational Development, and she will be supporting both Research and Data Services in her current role. Outside of work, Dana enjoys spending time with her husband, her new baby boy, and their dog.
Todd Takeno, MA
Todd Takeno was born and raised in Hawai’i. He graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University with his Master of Arts in clinical psychology. Todd has clinical experience working with children who have autism spectrum disorder. The research projects he is working on include Aspirin treatment, tobacco cessation, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and brain health, and colorectal cancer. He enjoys playing sports, being near the ocean, traveling, and exploring new places. View Takeno’s Curriculum Vitae
John Trainor, Ph.D.
John Trainor is originally from Buffalo, New York. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a Ph.D. in applied anthropology and a Master of Public Health in community and family health. He also holds a Master of Science in nutritional anthropology from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American studies from the University of Arizona.
John joined SCF in 2019 as the lead program evaluator. He has worked for over 15 years evaluating health programs at universities, the federal government, and for nonprofit organizations. John’s passion is understanding the role of culture and the environment in our health behaviors. He enjoys exploring nature with his two dogs and loves to travel the world.
Kyle A. Wark, MA
L’aakaw Éesh Kyle Wark was born and raised in Hoonah, Alaska. His mother’s family is Tlingit (Deisheetaan, Raven/Beaver clan), and his father is non-Native from Seattle (adopted into the Chookaneidí, Eagle/Wolf clan). Kyle became an anthropologist to study his Tlingit people and has primarily researched the impacts of colonization on Alaska Native health and wellbeing. He joined SCF in 2017, and has worked on projects covering genetics; social determinants of health; cultural resilience; and substance use disorder. Kyle has lived in Anchorage since 2008, and enjoys reading, playing piano, composing poetry, playing Go, and spending time with his family. View Wark’s Curriculum Vitae
Scott West
Scott West leverages his unique skillset as an evaluator to address critical social issues impacting Alaska Native and American Indian populations. He holds a master‘s degree in adult education and corporate training and a Bachelor of Science in computer science, allowing him to seamlessly navigate quantitative and qualitative data analysis for impactful program evaluations. Scott’s dedication extends beyond data analysis. He is committed to assisting veterans, individuals experiencing suicide ideation or domestic violence, and incarcerated individuals seeking reintegration. Scott’s work focuses on understanding the effectiveness of programs serving these populations, ultimately aiming to improve their lives and well-being.
R. Brian Woodbury, MPH
R. Brian Woodbury grew up in northern Michigan and has traveled broadly — first as a practical nurse in the U.S. Army and later as a manager of community health projects in Nepal. Brian has supported basic science research on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction, and public health and health policy research on the treatment of cardiac arrest, vision impairment and eye disease, and the health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids. Brian joined Southcentral Foundation in 2017 and has supported the Research department in both researcher and manager roles. He is an avid reader and outdoorsman, and enjoys spending his weekends exploring the natural beauty of Alaska. View Woodbury’s Curriculum Vitae