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We are thrilled to welcome Reth Duir, Chugach Children’s Forest, SCA, and NOLS alum – and one of the Arctic Youth Ambassadors – to our education staff! Reth will be working part-time to help implement our National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Urban Refuges grant with the US Fish & Wildlife Service; “Empowering Anchorage’s youth through outdoor leadership development to bring a diversity of perspectives and citizen engagement to conservation of Alaska’s migratory birds, wetlands, and National Wildlife Refuges”.  Funding for this grant was provided by US FWS and EPA.

We first met Reth Duir when he participated in one of our Chugach Children’s Forest Habitat Restoration Kayak Expeditions in 2013. His experience on this expedition was documented in a youth-produced video A Journey through Prince William Sound. He’s quoted in the video as saying, “camping in Prince William Sound was nothing but a fun experience for me. I’m not going to lie, I was nervous at first…being outdoors for the first time.” But he did it, and he discovered that it’s “almost mind-blowing, how much is out here in Prince William Sound…the seas, sea otters, seals, eagles, glacier calving, barnacles.” Needless to say, he’s been hooked on the outdoors ever since!

Later that summer, Reth participated in a  trail crew with the Student Conservation Association in the Chugach National Forest. The backcountry crew was based at the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, a part of the Chugach that is only accessible by train – no roads! The team of eight teens worked together to complete a large section of new trail and learned and practiced Leave No Trace principles.

(Reth about to embark on his NOLS expedition)

This past summer, Reth received a full scholarship to take a National Outdoor Leadership School Alaska Packrafting Course where he spent 30 days floating from a river off the Denali Highway down to Talkeetna. Reth became more confident about his backcountry skills and ability to plan and execute his own trips, he learned more about navigating in remote and often trail-less terrain, and he further developed his leadership skills. When asked, “Because of your experience on this trip, what do you want to do more of?” Reth responded, “I just want to get outdoors more, and help other youth get outdoors who don’t have the opportunity to get outdoors. I want to share this experience with them, especially underprivileged youth. I want them to experience this and I want to teach them the leadership skills that I’ve learned so they can use them in the backcountry—and in everyday life.” By working at Alaska Geographic, Reth (who is currently pursuing a degree in Education at the University of Alaska Anchorage) is going to be able to do just that.

(ASD students completing tests in Chester Creek. Photo Credit: Tony Flores)

Reth will be working with USFWS, an array of community partners, and the Anchorage School District to get 4th and 5th graders out and exploring their local ecosystems while also completing stewardship projects and fostering connections to the Fish & Wildlife Service and other public lands and conservation organizations. He will be coordinating school field trips that promote STEM education, deepen the students’ understanding of their watersheds, increase their knowledge about their local ecosystems, and develop their sense of place in Anchorage. The field trips will entail water quality tests in different reaches of Chester Creek near their schools, such as measuring water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH of the water and identifying macroinvertebrates that provide food for salmon and other fish. Reth will also be helping to plan and lead volunteer stewardship projects in Anchorage, trips to refuges with our Outdoor Club, and other efforts to better connect Alaska’s diverse youth with their National Wildlife Refuges and conservation initiatives.  In his new role, Reth will be able to combine his love of the outdoors with his passion for education; he will be an invaluable addition to our team as we continue to learn how to better inspire and empower Alaskan youth for long-term engagement with their public lands. Stay posted for more updates as Reth’s projects get underway!
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Katy, Denali Education Program Coordinator – Rooted in the mountains of West Virginia, where she grew up immersed in family camping trips and explorations of local state parks, Katy’s early experiences instilled in her a profound respect for the outdoors and a passion for sharing its wonders.

She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from West Virginia University where she got a footing in the outdoor industry through guiding freshman orientation trips.  Upon graduating, her journey in guiding and environmental education has taken her throughout the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain West, Alaska and the Appalachian region of the United States.

Eventually, her passion took her to Scotland where she completed a Master’s Degree in Outdoor Environmental and Sustainability Education from the University of Edinburgh in between exploring the Scottish Highlands. Since then, she’s called the Greater Yellowstone region and the deserts of the southwest home while guiding and working in the ski industry.

Equipped with certifications in Wilderness First Response, Outdoor Ethics, and Avalanche and Swiftwater Rescue, Katy brings enthusiasm for outdoor exploration and her expertise to every adventure. When not at work, she enjoys in trail running, skiing, reading and finding a good coffee shop to hang out in.

Natasha, Education Program Coordinator – Growing up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Natasha has always loved going on adventures in beautiful outdoor spaces with friends, family, and dogs!

Natasha loves combining her love for the outdoors with principles of stewardship in guiding, personal endeavors, and research- whether rock climbing in the desert, packrafting in the mountains, or using her degree in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability to teach environmental education to youth.

Over the last few years, Natasha has worked as a backpacking instructor for Alaska Geographic, taught place- based environmental science, researched climate change in arctic Alaska, and completed a thesis focusing on inclusivity and accessibility to outdoor recreational spaces and opportunities. Natasha is thrilled to share her knowledge and passion for the outdoors while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. Natasha lives in Anchorage, Alaska and is a Wilderness First Responder.

bio coming soon

Rachael Eggleston, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer – Rachael brings over a decade of experience with Alaska Geographic, where she has led retail, marketing, development, publishing, and brand strategy. As Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, she focuses on driving retail growth, visibility, and educational outreach. She works closely with our teams and public land partners to create content and campaigns that inspire, educate, and invite action. Whether developing a new publication, launching a campaign, or mentoring a teammate, she’s motivated by the belief that meaningful connections can lead to lasting stewardship. She’s proud to contribute to an organization that shares her passion for environmental education, broadening access to public lands and protecting Alaska’s most inspiring places. Outside of work, Rachael can be found hiking, camping, pack rafting, tending her garden, or getting crafty with a new project. She’s an avid reader who believes you can never have too many books or mugs. Rachael shares her home with her husband, Galen, and their very good dog, Lupine, who are always ready for the next adventure.

bio coming soon

Jess Brillhart, Field Course Coordinator – Jess has worked as an educator in several national parks but has called Denali home for many years.  She loves getting people out into the park by coordinating Alaska Geographic’s multi-day courses based out of a field camp near the Teklanika River. She oversees instructor scheduling, university accreditation, registration, and participant communication – ensuring smooth operations and meaningful experiences from start to finish. One of the most rewarding parts of her work is collaborating with scientists and connecting them with the amazing people who participate in our courses every summer.

Shandon Palmer, Staff Accountant – bio coming soon

Karen Bente, Office Administrator (herder of cats) – Born and raised in Wisconsin, Karen came to Alaska via Florida and the Navy. She has been in Alaska for over 40 years and married for 30 years. She has two children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. There is one additional son and three more grandchildren on her husband’s side. All in all, they are spread from Fairbanks to Portland, OR. Karen’s 30 years of progressively responsible office positions made her the ideal candidate for this unique position. Karen works with all of AK Geo including our full-time and seasonal staff, our board of directors, our partners, our donors, our vendors, and anyone who calls or comes through the door. If Karen doesn’t have the answer she will find it.

Liz Munns, Regional Operations Manager – Liz manages the retail operations for eight different sites throughout Alaska Geographic’s network. She has a B.S. in Parks & Recreation Management from Western Carolina University and an M.S. in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University – Mankato. She has worked as a classroom teacher, seasonally for USFS (developed recreation), and in other visitor service positions throughout Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.  Liz considers the Appalachian Mountains (specifically the Smokies) her home, but she loves her life in Alaska! Her biggest joys are picking berries, rockhounding, and spending time with her loved ones. When she’s not at work, her two labrador retrievers usually boss her around.

Steve Brown, Regional Operations Manager & Warehouse Coordinator – Steve is the Regional Operations Manager for seven of the Alaska Geographic stores around the state, including the online webstore at akgeo.org.  He is also the coordinator for the Anchorage warehouse, overseeing the incoming and outgoing of products both for the web store as well as some products which are passing though to other Alaska Geographic stores. He came to Alaska Geographic with 37 years of experience managing and selling Alaska-themed books to the largest retailers in the state of Alaska.

Mark Bailey, Regional Operations Manager – Mark is responsible for retail operations at several of our locations across the state, including Denali National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and our store within the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Mark was born and raised in Alaska. His first job out of high school was at the Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali National Park. Being in the wilderness for a summer sparked his love for public lands, especially Denali. Mark graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics. Mark’s professional experience includes time in the oil industry, politics, state government, and as a small business owner before joining Alaska Geographic in 2022. When not on the job, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and son at home, camping, or fishing.

Andy Hall , Executive Director – Andy is a lifelong Alaskan who was born in Sitka and spent his early years in Mt. McKinley National Park where his father was superintendent. Andy spent many years as a journalist, editor and publisher working at newspapers around Alaska. For 16 years he was the editor and publisher of Alaska Magazine and general manager of The Milepost. He is the author of Denali’s Howl, The Deadliest Climbing Disaster on America’s Wildest Peak, published by Penguin Random House in 2014. He served on the Alaska Geographic Board of Directors for nine years from 2005 to 2014. He has been Alaska Geographic’s Executive Director since February of 2018.

Caitlyn Tetterton, Anchorage Education Director – Caitlyn is an outdoor education professional with over a decade of experience designing and leading impactful education programs, managing risk in dynamic expedition environments, and fostering strong partnerships to deepen community connection to public lands. At Alaska Geographic, she develops place-based education programs that inspire both local youth and visitors, with a focus on making the outdoors more approachable and accessible, empowering the next generation of leaders, and setting a high standard for risk management. Her leadership is rooted in a people-first philosophy that values growth, empowerment, and fostering engaging environments. Caitlyn holds a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation & Education from Ohio University, is a Wilderness First Responder, and holds certifications in Avalanche Level 1, Swiftwater Rescue, ACA Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructing, and is a Leave No Trace Instructor. She stays fresh with the younger generations by teaching skiing at Alyeska on the weekends and leading teen canoe expeditions in California each fall. When she’s not working, she’s usually on a mountain bike, skiing in the backcountry, at a thrift store, or chasing after her senior (and formerly rejected) sled dog.