Alaska Native Social Workers Association (ANSWA)

2021-2022 ANSWA Officers

  • President: Vacant
  • Vice President: Vacant
  • Treasurer: Vacant
  • Secretary: Vacant
  • Rural Liaison: Vacant
  • Faculty Advisors: LaVerne Xilegg Demientieff and Gabrielle Russell

The Alaska Native Social Workers Association (ANSWA), a student group on the UAF campus, works to bring about cultural awareness and understanding of the diverse Alaska Native Cultures in the state; incorporates a component of providing service to others; and increases student leadership abilities and opportunities. ANSWA is unique in that it not only reaches out to students on the UAF campus, but students all over Alaska, who are taking social work courses via audio conference or through the cohort model. ANSWA has been successful in this endeavor and has many members who live in various communities across the state. At every meeting we have web-based  capabilities for people to participate.

This student group is unique and dynamic and adds to the diversity and opportunities for ALL students attending UAF. ANSWA was awarded one of the "Careers in Aging Week" grants from the Gerontological Society of America, which is a nation-wide effort at different campuses to educate students and communities about the field of gerontology and the importance of working with our elders. ANSWA was also awarded the Arthur J. Schaible Memorial Cultural Enrichment Fund, which is awarded each year to provide funding in the memory of Arthur J. Schaible for a special activity which serves to enrich the cultural life at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In 2008 ANSWA was awarded the Diversity Enrichment Award through the UAF Leadership Program. The benefits to being involved are that it is always a fun time,we are always meeting people, meeting potential employers, volunteering, giving back, being a part of change and social justice, practicing social work skills, and it looks great on resumes and scholarship applications. The club needs more students to be involved and attend meetings and give input. Hope to see you at the meetings! If you have any questions please contact lmdemientieff@alaska.edu.