For Immediate Release
September 18, 2019
Contact: Lisa Demer, 907-334-0529
ldemer@rasmuson.org
Anchorage, AK – Rasmuson Foundation is pleased to announce three new staff members and recognize an existing staff member with a career development opportunity. New staff bring expertise in visual and performing arts, human resources, philanthropy, health education and media. Two grew up in Anchorage.
Meet the Foundation’s three newest hires, all of whom joined this summer:
Tristan Agnauraq Morgan, Momentum Fellow. She is participating in a partnership between Philanthropy Northwest and Rasmuson Foundation to prepare individuals from underrepresented communities for careers in philanthropy with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Morgan grew up in Anchorage and attended University of Alaska Anchorage where she studied art and professional writing. While in college, Morgan interned with ASRC Energy Services, a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corp. and volunteered in her community. After graduating in December 2017, Morgan began work as a human resources coordinator with Denali Family Services, where she also helped organize art and indigenous youth events with the direct service staff working with children and adolescents.
She continues to collaborate with local and indigenous artists, focusing on identity, representation and Iñupiaq values in watercolor and oil painting. She recently was featured in the award-winning short film “Who We Are.”
Josh Hemsath, Program Fellow. Hemsath is participating in a separate two-year fellowship with the program team, our grantmaking arm. He brings more than 10 years of experience with nonprofits in Alaska and around the Pacific Northwest. He grew up in the Anchorage area and holds a Bachelor of Science in community health from Montana State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington.
For the last six years, Hemsath represented Pride Foundation in Alaska as its regional philanthropy officer, the sole staff member in the state. In that job, he mobilized community resources to support students and develop organizations. Some of his work addressed ways to help those who are experiencing homelessness. Before his tenure with Pride Foundation, he worked as a health educator and a graphic designer. He enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends and currently is training for a half-marathon.
Allison Macanga, administrative assistant. She moved to Anchorage from New Jersey in 2016 on, as she puts it, an adventurous whim. Previously, Macanga worked in New York City and Philadelphia, with experience in radio, video, and television production, including casting for a wide variety of reality TV shows. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in screen studies from Monmouth University. During college, she hosted a radio show and was an original member of the campus comedy group, which received several awards from the National Broadcasting Society. Since arriving, she has immersed herself in Alaska’s wilderness and community, making good use of a trail map and fly rod, exploring farmers’ markets and pop-up shops, and purchasing her first Salmon Sisters Xtratufs.
In addition, we want to recognize Emily Kwon, Momentum Fellow and external affairs associate. She also will take part in the Philanthropy Northwest Momentum program over the next two years to help her develop further as a professional in philanthropy. Kwon studied biological sciences at Arizona State University, where she became involved with the Asian Pacific American community including the Asian Chamber of Commerce. She joined the Foundation staff in 2017 as a communications intern and recently was promoted to serve as an associate on the external affairs team. She creates much of our social media, produces content for an app used on our annual Grantmakers Tour of Alaska and helps with many events and communication materials year-round. She stays busy outside of work as a leader with the Korean American Community of Alaska NexGen group and the Anchorage Chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum as well as her church.
About the Foundation
Through grantmaking and initiatives, Rasmuson Foundation aims to promote a better life for all Alaskans. Main funding areas are the arts, housing, homelessness, education, healthcare and organizational development. The foundation was created in 1955 by Jenny Rasmuson to honor her late husband, E.A. Rasmuson.
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