Doyon Foundation Staff

To contact us, call 907.459.2048 or send us a message.

Mariah Pitka-Jenkins
Executive Director

Mariah, from Galena, is the granddaughter of the late Laura and Edward Pitka, and Johnny Habeich and Eleanor Barrett. She is the daughter of Gerald Pitka and Rosie Habeich. Mariah is married to Shannon Jenkins and they have six children: Mason, Mia, Keagan, Tucker, Tatum and Krew.

A previous Doyon Foundation scholarship recipient, Mariah graduated from Bristol Bay Borough High School in 1995, and then spent three years taking core classes at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She attended George Washington University, receiving an associate certificate in project management in 2008. She obtained her executive leadership certificate from the University of California Berkeley in 2013. Mariah is also a graduate of Doyon Management Training.

“I am humbled at the experience to work with our shareholders via the Doyon Foundation,” she said. “Early in my career, I received the support of the Doyon Foundation to further my education and I am excited at the opportunity give back.”

Mariah is the first Doyon, Limited Class C shareholder to serve as a general manager in the Doyon family of companies. She joined Doyon in 2002, starting in accounting and working her way up to her most recent position as the senior vice president and general manager for Doyon Remote Facilities & Services. She assumed the role of Doyon Foundation executive director in September 2022, and previously served on the Foundation’s board of directors.

Mariah calls Interior Alaska home and has made a commitment to keep that connection alive with her children; she brings them all home to Galena for fishing and hunting every year in the summer and fall.

Tatiana Kiaqaq Andrew
Language Revitalization Administrative Assistant

Tatiana Kiaqaq Andrew is Yup’ik and the daughter of Fr. Jonah and Cheryl Andrew. Her grandparents are the late Adam and Nastasia Andrew of Kwethluk, Alaska on the Kuskokwim River and John and Susan Michalov of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

She is the eldest of four, and “Aunt T” to nieces and nephews. She grew up in various Lower Kuskokwim villages, as well as in Dillingham on the Nushagak River. Graduating from Mt. Edgecumbe High School connected her to many friends throughout Alaska.

Tatiana recently completed the Rural Human Services program with UAF (where she fell in love with Fairbanks) and is now working towards completing her AA degree with UAF; “it’s never too late!”

As the Administrative Assistant to the Language Revitalization department, Tatiana will work closely with the department Director, and the Foundation Staff by supporting Language Projects, Scholarship Programs, Community Relations, and Fund Developments.

She says, “Language is the connection we seek to the land, the animals, and each other. I’m humbled to be a part of the Language Revitalization department, and look forward to learning, and connecting with you.”

Elizabeth Green
Scholarship/Outreach Assistant

Elizabeth, from Galena, is the daughter of Charlie and Claudette Green, and the granddaughter of Floyd and Betty Green, and Don and Carol Lowe.

A Doyon Foundation scholarship recipient, Elizabeth graduated from Sidney C. Huntington School as the salutatorian in 2019. She is currently in her fourth year at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she is studying elementary education.

Elizabeth joined the Foundation as the scholarship/outreach assistant in December 2022. In this role, she supports and assists the scholarship program by organizing and planning events, presenting, writing, filing, researching and networking. Elizabeth previously served as the Foundation’s Morris Thompson executive intern in summer 2022.

“I want to work at Doyon Foundation because it’s in the education department,” Elizabeth said. “I want to learn about where my scholarships come from, and learn about my corporation.”

Outside of work and school, Elizabeth, who has received several sports awards, enjoys playing basketball and being with her family.

Allan Hayton
Language Revitalization
Program Director

Allan grew up in Arctic Village, and is the son of Lena Pauline Hayton from Fort Yukon, Alaska, and James T. Hayton from Natick, Massachusetts. His grandparents are Robert and Lena Albert from Tanana and Fort Yukon, Alaska. His Athabascan name is Diton, given to him by Dorothy Pitka after his great-grandfather Joseph Hunter of Tanana.

Allan is a Doyon Foundation alumnus, and studied theatre and film at Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas, finishing his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992. He continued at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, graduating spring 2013 with a Master of Arts in applied linguistics. Allan hopes to see all of the Doyon region languages being learned and spoken by present and future shareholders. “It is imperative that these languages continue to be spoken on the land of our ancestors,” he says.

Allan previously served on the Doyon Foundation board as vice president. He was also chair of the Foundation’s language revitalization committee, and served on the Vestry at St. Matthew’s Church.

Jennifer Mayo-Shannon
Accounting Technician 

Jennifer was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. Her mother is Bonnie Mayo, from Stevens Village, Alaska. Her maternal grandparents are the late Charles “Tucky” Mayo, Jr. from Rampart, Alaska, and Marjorie (Sam) Mayo from Stevens Village, Alaska. Jennifer has one sibling, Shoni Mayo, from Fairbanks, Alaska. Jennifer is married to Sean Shannon, from Atlanta, Georgia, and they have four children.

A Doyon, Limited shareholder and Doyon Foundation scholarship recipient, Jennifer has received an associate of applied science with a major in applied accounting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She has also received an accounting technician certificate. Jennifer is currently enrolled in UAF’s business administration program to obtain her bachelor’s degree.

“I am looking forward to assisting in the efforts to preserve and disseminate Alaska Native languages. Current efforts are being put forth so that my children and future generations will be able to learn to speak their language as well as understand their history and culture. It’s awe-inspiring to be a part of something so important,” Jennifer shares.

Lucy Miller
Mentor-Apprentice Program Project Manager

Lucy is from Berkeley, California, and is the daughter of the Rev. Canon Dr. Lizette Larson-Miller, of Southern California, and Steven Miller, from South Dakota.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in romance languages and a minor in South Asian studies from New York University, as well as a master’s degree in linguistics, with a focus on language documentation and conservation, from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.

Lucy served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon from 2015 – 2017. During her service, she worked as a language teacher and developed after-school programs focused on women’s health and empowerment. Before joining Doyon Foundation in 2021, Lucy worked as a teacher at a French-English bilingual school in California.

“I am honoured to work with Doyon Foundation and I look forward to supporting shareholders working to reclaim Native languages,” she said.

Outside of work, Lucy enjoys reading mystery novels, swimming and sci-fi television.

Petey Roach
Doyon Languages Education Project Manager

Petey Roach joined Doyon Foundation in November 2022 as our Doyon Languages Education Project Manager.

“I greatly admire Doyon Foundation’s dedication to their region by connecting children with their ancestral languages,” she said. “I look forward to working closely with students and teachers who are invested in these languages and building a project that will have a lasting effect on the community.” 

Petey, who is from Signal Mountain, Tennessee, is the daughter of Brandon Newman and Donna Roach, and the granddaughter of Carol and Douglas Roach.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a dual concentration in technical writing and literature from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has more than seven years of management experience, most recently serving as the human resource and administrative manager at the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Petey has also worked with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Peer Mentor Program, assisting first-year students in the classroom by designing effective curriculum, connecting students with appropriate resources, and writing policies to improve program safety.

Outside of work, Petey enjoys bow hunting, fishing, roller skating, and attending live music shows. “I’m always looking to challenge myself and learn new outdoor skills,” she said. “I hope to try ice climbing during my time in Alaska.”

Kim Sanders
Deputy Director

Kim joined Doyon Foundation as the Accounting Manager in October 2021 and accepted the position of Deputy Director In 2023. She is a graduate of North Pole High School, and obtained an associate degree in accounting from Rasmussen University.

“I believe growth is very important and I look forward to helping the Doyon Foundation programs grow.” Kim said. “Doyon Foundation is a large part of Alaska and contributes to the community. It is exciting to be a part of the Doyon family.”

In her free time, Kim enjoys spending time with family and friends, being in the outdoors and organizing events.

Jenna Sommer
Scholarship Program Manager

Jenna, a Doyon, Limited shareholder and a past Doyon Foundation scholarship recipient, was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. She is the daughter of Diane Evans-Sommer of Galena, Alaska, and Fred Sommer of Nulato, Alaska. She is the granddaughter of Dorothy Sommer and the late Fred Sommer, Jr., both from Nulato, Alaska, and Lilly and Alfred Evans from Galena, Alaska. Jenna has two daughters.

Jenna holds an associate of applied science degree in medical assisting, a healthcare reimbursement certificate, and a medical/dental reception certificate from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She is currently enrolled at UAF pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

Jenna first joined Doyon Foundation as a data entry technician in May 2015. She also served as the Foundation’s data manager prior to her current role as scholarship program manager. Previously, she worked for Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center as a care coordinator for nearly six years.

Outside of work, Jenna enjoys organizing, traveling with family, reading mysteries and horror, activities with her daughters, and walking.

“I enjoy working with students and helping them achieve their educational goals,” she said. “I want to help our students succeed!”

Jordan Tindall
Office Administrator

Jordan Tindall, a previous Doyon Foundation scholarship recipient, joined the Foundation as office administrator in September 2022.

A Doyon, Limited shareholder from Fort Yukon, Jordan is the daughter of Ethel Sakalaskas (Jonas) and Curtis Tindall, Sr. She is the granddaughter of the late Stanley and Madeline Jonas, and the late Henry and Rosalind Tindall. Jordan has three children, Lorelai, Rosalind and Walter Silas, and is engaged to her fiancé, Clinton Huntington.

Jordan graduated from Sidney Huntington City School, where she was the recipient of the Foundation’s Kickstart scholarship that allowed her to take college courses while still in high school. Currently, she is taking classes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and expects to receive her associate of science degree in spring 2023.

Previously, Jordan worked for Doyon Facilities. After her daughter, Rosalind, was born, Jordan chose to further her education before returning to the workplace.

“I am excited to be a part of the Doyon Foundation family! I am looking forward to being helpful to the staff and students to continue being productive and successful,” she said.

Jordan shared that most of her free time is focused on doing homework and taking care of her children. “I love spending time with all my nephews and niece,” she added. “When I get a chance, I also love to bead.”