Iḷisaġvik College is delighted to welcome Jerica Aamodt as Assistant Professor, Iñupiaq Studies.
Aamodt is Iñupiaq from Utqiaġvik, Alaska where she was raised. Prior to becoming faculty, Aamodt was Coordinator of Iñupiaq Studies since 2012. For the past four years, Aamodt has taught at Iḷisaġvik as adjunct faculty and is widely known for the contributions she has made toward the development of the Iñupiaq Studies division and to the community as a whole.
“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. I couldn’t be more proud!” said President Dr. Pearl Brower.
Dean of Academic Affairs Birgit Meany said, “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.”
Aamodt began her relationship with Iḷisaġvik taking dual-credit courses in high school and continuing on to receive her Associates of Arts degrees in Iñupiaq Studies and Liberal Arts with Iḷisaġvik College in April 2012. In 2014 she received her Bachelor’s degree in Alaska Native Studies with an emphasis in Alaska Native Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and her Masters in Rural Development from UAF in 2019.
ALASKA’S ONLY TRIBAL COLLEGE
Aamodt enjoys spending time with her daughter Jade on the land, working on her Iñupiaq language skills, and enjoys perpetuating the Iñupiaq language, culture, and traditions. She also enjoys teaching Jade as much Iñupiaq as she can.