Monica Terrones Vargas joined the Foundation in August 2022, bringing a love of Alaska and experience in events as well as grants. She most recently served as donor relations coordinator at the University of Alaska Foundation and before that worked in logistics for an oilfield services company. At the University of Alaska Foundation, she planned staff events and development team conferences and used her creativity to design graphics and social media campaigns. She also has worked events and concerts at the Alaska Airlines Center at University of Alaska Anchorage. “Events tell a story,” she says, “so it is important that everyone enjoys themselves.”

Monica was born in Peru and is fluent in Spanish. She volunteers for the Food Bank of Alaska as a delivery driver for monthly senior food boxes. In 2005, she graduated from UAA with a bachelor’s in journalism and public relations.

In her free time, she loves to go dancing, fosters dogs awaiting a forever home, and makes time to travel and enjoy Alaska, noting that the mountains provide great therapy. “Creating a world I want to live in is important to me,” Monica says.