Board and Staff
Janice Weiss Executive Director
After a career working with State government and non-profit organizations, Janice Weiss is currently the Executive Director of the Alaska Center for FASD. For four years, Janice served as the Reentry Manager for the Alaska Department of Corrections, helping create programs to serve prisoner reentry. Janice also worked with the Mat-Su Prisoner Reentry Coalition for four years, establishing one of eight community organizations whose sole purpose was to work with reentrants. Janice began her career with DOC in 1996 working as the Education Coordinator for the women’s prison, Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, for ten years. While there, she started a construction program and a women’s orchestra that gave public concerts. She expanded the greenhouse program to include a plant sale for the public held in the parking lot each year, held job fairs, and created a pathway for the women to complete their GED and move on to postsecondary education or other training. After 10 years, she was rewarded by having the residents and staff name a building the Janice M. Weiss Education and Music Building. Janice’s other work experience includes serving as the Director of the Alaska YWCA and as a Program Manager for the Alaska Native Justice Center. As a volunteer, she works to improve the quality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired. She has served on the Board of the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired for many years. Janice’s goal is to use her previous experience with creating and growing programs to do the same for the Alaska Center for FASD. Janice is eager to work with the Board members to expand on what has been put in place and establish a Center that will change the lives for the better of all those Alaskans affected by FASD.
Teri Tibbett Board President
Teri Tibbett is has over 25 years experience in public advocacy. For ten years she served as a legislative aide with the Alaska State Legislature and later served 14 years coordinating the advocacy effort for the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and partner advisory boards. In 2010, she co-founded the Alaska Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Partnership, now called the Alaska Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) Partnership, a statewide coalition of advocates promoting PAE/FASD awareness, policies, and funding for Alaskans impacted by PAE/FASD. In 2016, she co-authored with Judge Michael Jeffery, Smart Justice and FASD in Alaska: From Prevention to Sentence Mitigation, a chapter in a Springer International Publication entitled Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Adults: Ethical and Legal Perspectives. In 2022, she co-authored and edited 9 Core Messages: What Everyone Should Know About Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, published by the Alaska Department of Health. Teri has coordinated and presented at conferences and trainings on the topic of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Alaska, United States, and Canada.
Gina Schumaker Vice-President
Self Advocate
Gina Schumaker is an FASD self-advocate who came to understand her story and brain-based challenges after she sought an evaluation/diagnosis at age 50. Prior to diagnosis she believed that her life difficulties were her fault and blamed her lack of supervision/parenting growing up. She had heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome but did not believe it applied to her because she did not have ‘the look’ (facial features).
As a child she experienced life with a mother who had alcohol use disorder but found that other adults could be there for her (in particular, the faith community support was and continues to play a key role in her life.) She has risen above challenges with teen homelessness, early life substance experimentation, poor-fit jobs, and failed relationships.
She vowed to not repeat the past and has successfully parented two children (ages 33 and 17), has two businesses, is employed part-time by UAA Center for Human Development, and has provided many presentations to share her story and bring hope to others who experience an FASD.
Laurie Hume Treasurer
Laurie is a dedicated professional with a strong background in Human Resources and Finance. Currently employed at a tribal non-profit organization, Laurie brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the board of directors.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Laurie has a personal connection to the cause. As a birth mother to a child on the FASD spectrum, she understands the challenges and unique needs of individuals and families affected by FASD.
Laurie's primary goal on the board is to reduce the stigma surrounding FASD and ensure that individuals have access to timely diagnosis and comprehensive support services. She believes in the power of education, awareness, and advocacy to create a more inclusive and supportive society for individuals with FASD.
With her financial acumen and passion for making a difference, Laurie is committed to leveraging her skills and knowledge to contribute to the success of the organization. She is excited to collaborate with fellow board members and stakeholders to drive positive change and improve the lives of individuals with FASD and their families.
Deb Evensen, MA Secretary
Deb is an internationally recognized FASD consultant, master teacher, and behavior specialist with more than 45 years’ experience teaching and developing programs for individuals with highly challenging behaviors. Her range of teaching experience includes students with cognitive impairments to those with highly gifted abilities in grades K-12, as well as adult life. She worked with her first student with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in 1982 and has been a pioneer in discovering practical solutions that work for individuals with FASD. She has the unique perspective of one who has spent thousands of hours helping to develop programs and problem solve solutions for children, adolescents and adults with FASD in schools and communities throughout Alaska, United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Ukraine, and Norway. Through the years Deb, has received many awards and was the inaugural recipient of Alaska’s “Vision, Leadership, and Commitment to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome” in 2001. Currently, Deb is working on projects in Alaska, Canada, and the lower 48. She was the consultant working with the first school districts in North America attempting to improve their capacity to deal with the challenges of students with FASD in every grade level and every program: Anchorage School District and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. Deb is driven by the belief that the Alaskan frontier spirit and attitude provides an opportunity to solve the extreme challenges of FASD at a grassroots level that may appear unsolvable from a greater distance. She believes that by working together to serve people living with FASD today, we are working toward a future where this disability no longer exists.
Michael I. Jeffery, J.D. Board Member
Retired Superior Court Judge
After living in India almost five years, Michael Jeffery moved to Barrow (now, Utqiagvik) Alaska in January 1977 to start the Alaska Legal Services Corporation office. After nearly six years with ALSC, he was appointed the North Slope’s first Superior Court Judge. After a 32-year judicial career, he reached the constitutional age limit of 70 and had to retire in December 2014. He became energized in 1996 about the disconnect between FASD and the justice system and started to adapt to reduce the unintentional injustice. His continuing efforts were recognized in state-wide media outlets and awards, including from the Alaska Federation of Natives. He assisted in the successful effort to have FASD recognized in Alaska as a possible “mitigating factor” in sentencing for serious crimes. As an active member of statewide FASD committees, he helped produce Alaska’s FASD 5-Year Plan. He has trained groups in “FASD 101” and has given FASD/justice system presentations in Vancouver, BC; Alaska; several other states, and a 2019 Rotary-sponsored training team journey to Western Australia. He joined the board of the Alaska Center for FASD to assist in public education and community service for persons and families affected by FASD. Previously recognized as a member of the national NOFAS Hall of Fame, he is now the board’s liaison to NOFAS’s Affiliate Network. He is a long-time drummer in an Eskimo dance group. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Barrow and in his faith community. He is married to Esther and they are blessed with three grown children. He graduated from Stanford University and the Yale Law School.
Mary Katasse Board Member
Mary is a proud mother of 5. When her middle child came into her home (at about 4 months old), Mary dedicated her time and efforts to learning, sharing, and supporting all with FAS/D.
Most recently, Mary was a Board Member for the Juneau Community FASD and held the role as secretary. She was also an active part of the Juneau Community FASD Working Group, where she attended, assisted, worked at local training and conferences, and attended the legislative sessions at the capitol when a need arose for those who experience a disability.
Mary actively supports the teachers and staff at our Juneau School District, offering guidance, and strategies to support children who experience an FAS/D or other developmental disability. She looks forward to serving on the board and will make it her goal to help fulfill and support the mission, vision, and goals of the Alaska Center for FASD.
Mary encourages those who are able, to help support the work of this meaningful board by donating to the AK Center for FASD by clicking on the button towards the top of the page. Even one dollar makes an impact! You can make a one-time donation, automatic monthly donations, and a Pick Click Give donation. Gunalchéesh’ Hoho
Karen Lomack Board Member
Karen ‘Arnalquar’ Lomack is Alaska Native born in Anchorage and raised in both Akiachak and Akiak, Alaska. She is bilingual with Yup’ik as her first language and English as her second language. Anchorage has been home to her and her family since May 2015. She is mother to five children, two sons and three daughters, ages 26, 24, 21, 12 and 11 years old. She has a personal and professional experience with brain-based differences including FASDs and Alzheimer’s disease. She is currently employed at Stone Soup Group as a Parent Navigator and works specifically with parents and caregivers of individuals impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. She is a member of the Alaska Prenatal Alcohol Partnership, FASD ECHO, and Housing and Supports SIG group. She is also a certified FASD Into Action trainer, using the neurobehavioral model by Diane Malbin. Karen is impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure and is taking the steps for a diagnosis through Frontier Community Services in Soldotna, Alaska. She is also a mother of children who are impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. Presently, Karen has over twelve, going on thirteen years of recovery from addiction to alcohol. She enjoys making Alaska Native art, collecting souvenirs, going on road trips, camping, fishing, and gathering/harvesting subsistence food for her family. She also uses her voice to advocate for herself, her children, and many others.
Catherine Mannix Board Member
Special Education Teacher/Collaborator, Anchorage School District
Catherine Mannix is a special education teacher who has worked in the Anchorage School District for the past 17 years, at the preschool and middle school levels. She has practiced in the field of education in various capacities, and at all grade levels, since graduating in 1980 with a B.S. in Education from Western Illinois University. Catherine has worked with students coping with the effects of FAS and FASD since her earliest days in the classroom in Montana. She has been a consistent activist pursuing grants and training for staff and families regarding FASD. Catherine participated for many years on the Anchorage School District FAS committee and co-produced an online FASD resource for district teachers. She has worked on various boards and brings this experience to pursue her greatest passion: recognizing and appropriately addressing the educational needs of students with FASD, while raising community understanding, acceptance, and support for students and their families. “Until all teachers and society at large have a deep understanding and respect for the prevalence of brain-based differences of students, the school system will continue to wound FASD affected individuals and their families. Students must be recognized for the strengths they possess and accommodated for their weaknesses. Success must be measured beyond the limits of current standardized testing.”