Iḷisaġvik College Names Utqiagvik Native Jerica Aamodt Assistant Professor of Iñupiaq Studies

Iḷisaġvik College welcomed Jerica Aamodt as Assistant Professor of Iñupiaq Studies, a hiring that brought an Iñupiaq woman raised in Utqiagvik back to the institution where her own education began.

In 2019, Iḷisaġvik College invited Aamodt to join its faculty. She is Iñupiaq from Utqiagvik and first started her relationship with the college by taking dual-credit courses in high school, eventually earning Associate of Arts degrees in Iñupiaq studies and liberal arts from Iḷisaġvik in 2012. She then received her bachelor's degree in Alaska Native studies with an emphasis in Alaska Native education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks before completing a master's degree in rural development from UAF in 2019.

Prior to becoming faculty, Aamodt served as Coordinator of Iñupiaq Studies since 2012. For the past four years she had taught at Iḷisaġvik as adjunct faculty. She is widely known for her contributions to the development of the Iñupiaq Studies Department and to the community as a whole.

Aamodt's graduate research examined how to grow the Iñupiaq Studies Department through courses and programmatic offerings grounded in Iñupiaq cultural values. As an assistant professor, she now has the opportunity to implement much of what was identified through that research. "My goal is to apply my project to this position — take out some classes, add some new ones, and change [the program] to be more sustainable," Aamodt said. She is excited to teach more, create new cultural summer camps, and expand dual-credit opportunities for high school students.

Aamodt knew she wanted to be a teacher when she was enrolled in a high school program called Future Teachers of Alaska. The program facilitator at the time, who was also Iñupiaq, worked at Iḷisaġvik.

Dean of Academic Affairs Birgit Meany described the hire as significant. "Jerica Aamodt's transition to a faculty position is significant, because she represents a young Iñupiaq professional poised to make a positive impact at the classroom level, the institutional level, and the community level. As a faculty member, Jerica will be instrumental in shaping the Iñupiaq studies program; influence institutional decision-making; and strengthen the ties between the college, employers, and community at large. It is my hope that Jerica's accomplishment will motivate her students to see that with hard work and persistence they too can achieve their goals."

Former college president Dr. Pearl Brower framed the appointment within the college's founding philosophy. "Iḷisaġvik College has always emphasized the value of homegrown educators. This is why we were formed — to support our local people in achieving their educational goals — with the result of locally controlled, self-sustaining communities. We are proud that Niayuq, Jerica Aamodt, is an alumna of Iḷisaġvik College and it is with great pleasure that we welcome her as faculty. She joins an elite few who have been home grown educators at Iḷisaġvik."

Aamodt joins Iñupiaq studies coordinator Katie Qaggun Roseberry in the department. The college seeks to consistently grow the Iñupiaq studies program so all residents of the North Slope and all Iñupiat can have the opportunity to learn essential life skills, their history, language, and knowledge, and how to be successful regardless of the cultural education they may or may not have had access to while growing up.

Operated by the North Slope Borough, Iḷisaġvik is the only tribal college in Alaska and is the northernmost accredited community college in the United States. Its name translates to "a place to learn.