“Don’t beat yourself up during this tenuous journey, have healthy outlets, keep your goal in sight, and have positive self-talk.”
KEF Board Member Alberta Jones
Dr. Alberta Jones is an Instructor/Field Supervisor at Western Washington University in the Woodring College of Education. She earned her Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies, with an emphasis on Research, from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Alberta spent her career teaching middle and upper elementary school in Juneau, Alaska, and Silver Spring, Maryland. She coordinated many Western Science/Indigenous Knowledge camps, which was always a highlight of her work. She also coordinated multiple large grants. Alberta belongs to the Tsimshian Gishbudwada (Killer Whale) phratry. She is also Alutiiq-Sugpiaq, Russian, Hispanic, Norwegian, Swedish, Finish, Baltic, & German.
Alberta’s mother, Corrine “Utchie” Sundberg Brown, is from Larsen Bay, and her grandmother Edith (Aga) Swan, is also from Kodiak. She was born and raised in Sitka, where her mother and auntie, Irene, attended Mt. Edgecumbe Boarding School.
Alberta enjoys teaching at the college level and has many years of successfully teaching and coaching students before postsecondary education. Her mantra is, “Education is opportunity.” Her role of supporting and encouraging future teachers is important to her. She finds it essential to promote and support Indigenous students in pursuing and attaining doctoral degrees. Alberta believes we must grow our capacity by building Alaska Natives in leadership roles.
Alberta enjoys keeping up with politics with her husband. She enjoys time with family and now getting back on a healthy fitness track post-Covid by walking and biking. Mentally, she enjoys volunteer work with Koniag Education Foundation.
Alberta advises students to keep a calendar and schedule, be accountable for their coursework and deadlines, and not be afraid to ask for academic or mental support. Don’t beat yourself up during this tenuous journey, have healthy outlets, keep your goal in sight, and have positive self-talk.