We announced the results of the board election during our Annual Meeting on September 25, 2024. The three nominees who will serve three-year terms from November 2024 to November 2027 are listed below with the bios submitted with their nominations. We look forward to working with you all!
Benjamin Jacuk, Director of Indigenous Research, Alaska Native Heritage Center
Benjamin is a Dena’ina and Sugpiaq who is serving as the Director of Indigenous Research at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Benjamin has worked within the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues/INTERPOL towards the repatriation and rematriation of the material culture of Indigenous peoples across the world. He is currently studying the history and impacts of the boarding schools within Alaska, working with such entities such like: Department of Interior, US Senate, various AK Native Tribes, Museums Alaska etc. He also helps create and maintain materials for the Alaska Native Heritage Center’s Museum. Recently, Benjamin has been instrumental in the return of significant material culture to Alaska from ecclesial repositories taken during the boarding school era that are either endangered artforms or thought to have been extinct. Benjamin’s work with Museums Alaska has been significant to telling this part of Alaska Native history and the return of culture to the communities it was taken from. Benjamin has two master’s degrees from Princeton and has done extensive work within the Princeton Dead Sea Scrolls Society in the linguistics and interpretation of Ancient Near-Eastern manuscripts/material culture. It would be his honor to join the board of directors for Museums Alaska to continue to help tell the stories of the original peoples and to help the next generation thrive.
Cindi Lagoudakis, former Executive Director, Clausen Memorial Museum
Cindi Lagoudakis is a former Executive Director of the Clausen Memorial Museum. A lifelong enthusiast of museums, especially those focused on nature, science, art and history, she is excited to advocate for museums and cultural centers across this state. Cindi’s first career was as a forester and resource manager. She has extensive focus group and board experience, having served on a Juneau Trails Working Group, board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Alaska, Alaska Folk Festival, Petersburg Arts Council, the Mendenhall Wetlands Advisory group to the State of Alaska, Petersburg Medical Center Advisory Board, Southeast Alaska Power Agency, and Museums Alaska. She is also an artist, and has participated in local, regional and statewide exhibits, and as curator for local and regional art exhibits. As a former Chamber of Commerce director, vice-mayor and mayor, Cindi has experience in local government, and an interest in keeping communities and their history alive and strong.
Allison Stacy, Curator of Collections & Exhibits, Seward Museum
Allison Stacy is a jack of all trades. She began at George Washington’s Mount Vernon as a program manager. Introduced to historic preservation, her passion for archaeology grew, leading to fieldwork and specializing in Section 106 compliance. As a strong advocate for ethical practice in cultural heritage management, she became an Investigative Analyst for the Manhattan Antiquities Trafficking Unit. She oversaw provenance research and property law procedures, working on repatriation cases worldwide. Born in Fairbanks, she returned to Alaska as the Curator of Collections & Exhibits at the Seward Museum. Allison’s appointment to the Board would greatly benefit ongoing efforts to further develop ethical practices within Alaskan Museums. She envisions Museums Alaska becoming one of the leaders in ethical museum practice nationwide. Her collaborative approach ensures that all stakeholders, from the directors to volunteers, are considered when developing policy and practice.
