My summer at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) provided a unique opportunity to merge academic research with real-world environmental policy work. As both a graduate student at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a Program Coordinator at ANTHC, I was able to engage with Alaska Native communities on the frontlines of climate change, deepening my understanding of coastal contamination and resilience. Reflecting on these past months, I’m grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and community members who made this experience so impactful.
What did you accomplish with your host organization? What was the impact of your work?
This 2024 summer, I led the research on the Impact of Sea Level Rise on Alaska’s Coastal Contaminated Sites, which focused on evaluating how rising sea levels threaten contaminated sites across Alaska’s coastline. Understanding their vulnerabilities is critical for future mitigation efforts.
Through field visits and community meetings, I was able to document firsthand accounts of how these sites have changed over time. Residents spoke of shorelines that had receded by dozens of feet, abandoned infrastructure slowly being swallowed by the ocean, and concerns about contaminants entering subsistence food sources. Using data from the Alaska contaminated sites database and sea level rise projections from the IPCC, I identified high-risk sites.
How did this experience benefit you professionally and personally?
Professionally, this experience reinforced my passion for environmental health and policy, particularly in the context of Indigenous and rural communities. Working with ANTHC allowed me to see how public health, environmental science, and climate adaptation intersect in ways that are both complex and deeply personal. I had the opportunity to collaborate with experts in environmental remediation, climate resilience, and community outreach, strengthening my ability to engage in interdisciplinary problem-solving.
On a personal level, the experience left a lasting impact. I was able to meet with Alaska Native community leaders who shared their lived experiences of environmental degradation and resilience. These conversations were humbling and inspiring—reminders that climate change is not an abstract policy issue but a lived reality for many. Seeing both the challenges and the strength of these communities reinforced my commitment to community-centered environmental work.
Did this experience lead to any unexpected discoveries or moments of self-reflection?
One of the biggest takeaways from this experience was recognizing how deeply historical contamination still affects Alaska’s communities today. Many of the contaminated sites I visited—rusting barrels along the beach, abandoned schools with asbestos, landfills eroding into the ocean—date back decades, yet they continue to pose significant health and environmental risks. The urgency of addressing these issues became even more apparent when speaking with residents who rely on the land and water for subsistence.
Additionally, I was struck by the resilience of the people I met. Despite the challenges posed by contamination, erosion, and climate change, Alaska Native communities are not simply waiting for outside solutions. They are actively advocating for resources, developing adaptation strategies, and finding innovative ways to protect their lands. Their leadership and determination reinforced my belief that environmental solutions must be community-driven to be truly effective.
As I look ahead, this summer at ANTHC has further solidified my commitment to addressing environmental injustices and ensuring that impacted communities have a voice in decision-making processes. The work continues, but I’m grateful to have been part of an effort that seeks to protect both the health of Alaska’s ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
