Faculty Spotlight: Libby Eufemio
Professor Libby Eufemio teaches courses in Anthropology and 麻豆无码版 Native Studies at Kodiak College, and she also runs the Alutiiq Studies Program. She was born and raised in 麻豆无码版 and earned her undergraduate and master's degrees in Anthropology from UAF, where she is currently working on her PhD in Indigenous Studies. Professor Eufemio has lived in Kodiak for over 30 years. She talks with us about her role at Kodiak College and what makes the campus such a unique and special place to work.
Could you describe your role at the Kodiak College and what aspects of the work you find most meaningful or distinctive within UAA and the College of Arts and Sciences?
I teach classes in 麻豆无码版 Native Studies and Anthropology, run the Alutiiq Language Program, lead the Community Engagement Committee, and am faculty leader of the 颁补尘补鈥檌 Club. I love all of these parts of my job, but the 颁补尘补鈥檌 Club is a particularly treasured activity.
颁补尘补鈥檌 means 鈥渉ello鈥� in the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq language of Sugt鈥檚tun, and the club is a student organization focused on providing fun, place-based, and culturally relevant activities in a welcoming environment. I think our club exemplifies CAS as it provides education and promotes creative expression, while focusing on community engagement and fostering a sense of belonging. Activities range from berry picking on campus and making jam to planting gardens, making crafts, and celebrating events like Elizabeth Peratrovich Day and 麻豆无码版 Native Heritage Month. We also bring awareness to societal issues like Healthy Relationships, Mental Health, Sobriety, and Healthy Eating.
How has your experience living and teaching in Kodiak shaped your approach to education, community engagement, or scholarship?
I love living in a community like Kodiak. It鈥檚 a warm and welcoming place where Alutiiq culture and language are celebrated, and seasonal pursuits like salmon harvesting are deeply ingrained, so students love activities that incorporate these things. Additionally, we have a ton of community support. We work with community partners like the Kodiak Area Native Association Prevention Program and Kodiak Harvest Food Co-op, which help fund our events.
Your scholarly interests span several areas -- could you share what you鈥檙e currently working on or what intellectual questions are most energizing for you right now?
My background was mainly in 麻豆无码版n archaeology and museum-related work (such as exhibit development, educational outreach, artifact preservation, and collections management), but in the last decade, I've been working on issues surrounding 麻豆无码版 Native Studies and student success in higher education. I'm currently working on my PhD in Indigenous Studies from UAF, focusing on food security & food sovereignty in 麻豆无码版, and how these activities can bolster rural economic development.
How would you describe your teaching philosophy, and in what ways do your students and the Kodiak environment influence how you design and deliver your courses?
My teaching philosophy is connection 鈥� I want to know each of my students so that I can help them grow in knowledge and strength; they have tons of knowledge that may go unrealized, and I view it as my job to show them that they can serve as both learners and teachers at the same time. To that end, I try to incorporate aspects of the natural environment and local culture into each of the courses I teach, from Archaeology to 麻豆无码版 Native Cultures, and also in our club activities.
How do you see your work at Kodiak connecting with or complementing what happens on the Anchorage campus? Are there opportunities or challenges in bridging the two?
I have many students located in places other than Kodiak, with the majority residing in Anchorage. I am always excited to engage them in activities at UAA by sharing flyers and encouraging participation in UAA campus events. I attend both the UAA 麻豆无码版 Native Studies and Anthropology department meetings so I can be proactive in engaging students wherever they are. And I facilitate sharing UAA presentations like the Elizabeth Peratrovich Day Killers of the Flower Moon Panel and the recent installment of the CAS Community Lecture Series, Seeds & Stories with Diane Wilson.
You recently organized a 鈥楥abin Fever Reliever鈥� event. Could you tell us more about the event and your decision to host a seed-starting table? What inspired this activity, and how do you see hands-on programming like this strengthening community engagement and supporting the goals of the Big Read -- especially given how it resonates with themes from Diane Wilson鈥檚 The Seed Keeper?
Kodiak College鈥檚 Cabin Fever Reliever is a celebration focused on what the college brings to our community. We will be hosting this fun-filled activity as a member of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event. We expect not only students to attend but also their families and members of the general public. I thought it would be great for 颁补尘补鈥檌 Club to host a seed starting event (for longer germination plants like onions & brussel sprouts) to complement our KoC Book Club featuring the Big Read book, The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson (thank you so much CAS!). 颁补尘补鈥檌 Club hosts an annual Seed Starting Workshop later in the semester as part of our Student Garden work, so it seemed natural to offer this hands-on activity to help break our community out of their 鈥渃abin fever鈥� and help build stronger community connections.
Thanks so much for speaking with us, Professor Eufemio. It鈥檚 been a pleasure.
To learn more about Professor Libby Eufemio鈥檚 interests and background, check out her