Our Staff & Partners
Sheryl Musgrove
Director, Alaska Climate justice program
Sheryl is Director of the Alaska Climate Justice Program. She works in partnership with Alaska Native Tribal communities on climate adaptation and resilience, including Tribal capacity building and policy advocacy for equitable Tribal access to resources needed for climate adaptation.
Sheryl previously worked as a senior staff attorney focusing on energy justice and policy at the Pace Energy and Climate Center; as a public defender and criminal defense attorney representing indigent clients; and as a judicial law clerk working with federal judges on a variety of cases, including complex environmental and Indian law cases. Sheryl holds a J.D. from the University of Idaho; an LL.M. in Environmental Law from Pace University; and a Ph.D. in Sustainability from Arizona State University.
Susan Gadamus
Climate Justice Staff Attorney
Susan is the Climate Justice Staff Attorney at the Alaska Institute for Justice. She works with Tribal communities on capacity building and advocating for policy changes to increase Tribal access to federal resources needed for climate adaptation.
Susan previously worked as a staff attorney for Alaska Legal Services Corporation; as the policy director for Audubon Alaska; as a judicial law clerk at the Alaska Superior Court; as a law clerk for Earthrise Environmental Law Clinic, and as a summer associate with The Nature Conservancy. Susan holds a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School, and an M.S. in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from Colorado State University.
Diane sam
tribal liaison coordinator
Diane is the Tribal Liaison Coordinator for the Alaska Climate Justice Program. She partners with Alaska Native Tribal communities to support their climate adaptation and resilience efforts. Her work includes capacity building, technical assistance, and advocacy as needed to ensure equitable access to essential resources for climate adaptation.
Throughout her extensive career, Diane has established relationships with over 100 rural Alaskan communities and organizations. She has addressed a broad spectrum of community and regional issues, including infrastructure planning and development, land use planning and management, negotiating realty transactions, securing necessary environmental and natural resource permits, and natural resource planning and development.
Diane is an Inupiaq Eskimo and holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Northern Arizona University.
julian ramirez
Communications Coordinator
Julian is the Communications Coordinator at the Alaska Institute for Justice. He works on AIJ’s social media presence and assists in project coordination, including grant writing, reporting, and other administrative duties.
Julian holds a B.A. from Washington and Lee University in English Literature and American Government, and is able to apply both his communication skills and understanding of government in this role. Julian has been with the Institute since June 2024.
Lisette Dalere
Climate justice program Coordinator
Lisette is the Climate Justice Program Coordinator at the Alaska Institute for Justice. She helps to coordinate the program's efforts with a focus on administration, preparing contracts and invoices, arranging travel and workshop logistics, and coordinating culturally-appropriate meetings amongst other duties.
Lisette has come to specialize in systems analysis and communication by finding creative solutions to systemic issues and challenges. She is deeply passionate about intersectionality in climate justice and has completed courses in ethnic studies, decolonization, facilitation, and non-violent communication. She holds a B.S. in Natural Sciences with an emphasis on environmental science from the University of Alaska Anchorage. As an active community member, Lisette maintains her commitment to uplifting marginalized groups by participating in community events and facilitating a book club focused on Hispanic and Latino literature.
Our Partners
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Jeffrey Chingliak
Jeffrey is the Permafrost Pathways Liaison for Akiachak Native Community. He’s been in the position since June 2024 and works on erosion monitoring, storm reporting, and ice monitoring to improve the safety of his village during freeze up.
AKIACHAK NATIVE COMMUNITY
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John Nick
IGAP Director
AKIACHAK NATIVE COMMUNITY
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Maamcuk Foss
Permafrost Pathways Liaison
AKIAK NATIVE COMMUNITY
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Reggie Tuluk
Permafrost Pathways Liaison
CHEVAK NATIVE VILLIAGE
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Cynthia Panivak
Environmental Coordinator
CHEVAK NATIVE VILLAGE
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Martin Aukongak
Permafrost Pathways Liaison
CHINIK ESKIMO COMMUNITY
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Charlie Brown
President of Tribal Council
CHINIK ESKIMO COMMUNITY
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Donna Katchatag
Tribal Coordinator
CHINIK ESKIMO COMMUNITY
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Carol Oliver
EPA IGAP Coordinator
CHINIK ESKIMO COMMUNITY
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Brian Carl
Permafrost Pathways Liaison
NATIVE VILLAGE OF KIPNUK
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Rayna Paul
IGAP Program Director
NATIVE VILLAGE OF KIPNUK
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Andrea Carl
IGAP Assistant
NATIVE VILLAGE OF KIPNUK
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Jessie Dock-Paul
Jessie is the Permafrost Pathways Liaison for the Organized Village of Kwethluk. He’s been working in the role since October 1, 2024 and is currently working to improve OVK’s collection and database of erosion data.
ORGANIZED VILLAGE OF KWETHLUK
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Darren John
Permafrost Pathways Liaison
NATIVE VILLAGE OF KWIGILLINGOK
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Dustin Evon
Tribal Resilience Coordinator
NATIVE VILLAGE OF KWIGILLINGOK
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Lucy Martin
Tribal Resilience Assistant
NATIVE VILLAGE OF KWIGILLINGOK
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Preston Alexie
Preston is the Permafrost Pathways Liaison for the Native Village of Kwinhagak. He started the position in September 2024.
NATIVE VILLAGE OF KWINHAGAK
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Ferdinand Cleveland
Tribal Resilience Coordinator
NATIVE VILLAGE OF KWINHAGAK
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Angela Johnson
Tribal Council President
NATIVE VILLAGE OF NELSON LAGOON
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Darren Johnson
Permafrost Pathways Liaison
NATIVE VILLAGE OF NELSON LAGOON
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Role temporarily vacant
Permafrost Pathways Liaison
NATIVE VILLAGE OF NUNAPITCHUK
