Storyknife Board and Staff

Paula Martin, President
Pearl Brower, Vice-President
Dawn Peppinger, Secretary
Patrice Krant, Treasurer
Esther Cetina, Member at Large
Julie Dodds, Member at Large
Claudia Mauro, Member at Large
Amy Penney, Member at Large
Rhonda Sleighter, Member at Large

Paula Martin, President

Paula J.S. Martin has been campus CEO, dean, director, vice-provost, Fulbright scholar or full professor for a number of colleges and universities.  Her path radiated from strong disciplinary roots in entomology, attaining three degrees (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.) to then metamorphosing to leading interdisciplinary environmental programs (Emory University and Juniata College) and later managing academic affairs for higher education institutions (such as Kenai Peninsula College). Her writing has mirrored her academic path, from early work on biting fly repellents in the Journal of Medical Entomology to discourse on the academic nuances between environmental science and environmental studies in the CUR Quarterly, and a tract on “Facilitating Interdisciplinary Scholars” in multiple editions of the Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity. Now that she has largely retired, her path has further widened. She finished writing a memoir (Floaters: The Professor and the Captain) and is working on an environmental science mystery series. 

Paula was born in Buffalo and is now a fortunate Alaska transplant, living in Homer where her husband, cat, and many friends can be found.

Dr. Pearl K. Brower, Vice-President

B.A. Anthropology and B.A. Alaska Native Studies from University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2004.  Masters in Alaska Native and Rural Development from University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2010. Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies, with an emphasis in Indigenous Leadership from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, May 2016.

Brower serves as the President/CEO of Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Corporation, one of the top 10 companies by revenue in the state of Alaska.  Prior to this, she was at the University of Alaska serving as the Senior Advisor for Alaska Native Success, Institutional Diversity and Student Engagement.  In October of 2020, Dr. Brower left the Presidency of Iḷisaġvik College, Alaska’s only Tribal College where she had been in administration at the college for 13 years, the last 8 serving as President. 

Dr. Brower grew up in both Barrow, Alaska and in northern California practicing a subsistence lifestyle in both areas. She and her husband, Jesse Darling, have two daughters, Isla and Sindri. Brower was named one of Alaska’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2015, the First Alaskans Institute Young Alaska Native Leader in 2019, and received the 2019 YWCA Women of Achievement award. Brower is active around Alaska and beyond. She serves on the Alaska Airlines Community Advisory Board, The Foraker Group Governance Board as Chair, as a board member of the National Museum of the American Indian, Commission of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, and of course Storyknife.  

Dawn Peppinger, Secretary

Dawn is a born and raised Alaskan Native. She retired from the US Postal Service, Alaska District, after a 38 year career starting as a clerk then promoted to various management positions within the Marketing and Operations Departments.  Now retired, she is involved in volunteer work, traveling, beading, sewing and discovering new craft hobbies. She enjoys reading many genres and appreciates the opportunity to support Storyknife’s vision.  

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Patrice Krant, Treasurer

Patrice Krant and her husband sold their house in Atlanta upon her retirement from The Coca-Cola Company, and became full-time RVers with plans to tour America. Their first destination was Alaska, arriving in April of 2012. They are still here. (If you live in Alaska, you understand.)

Patrice was raised largely in New England, and has a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Maine, as well as an MBA from Georgia State University. Her career path was haphazard at best. As examples, she was the first female full-time firefighter/EMT in Maine, the sales director for a trucking software company, and The Coca-Cola Company’s global procurement executive for all ingredients.

An avid quilter (delighted to have two of her quilts hanging at Storyknife), incessant traveler, and nascent gardener, Patrice also enjoys philanthropy, and is a founding member of the Homer chapter of 100 Women Who Care. Her board experience includes the President’s Board of Visitors at the University of Maine, the University of Maine Foundation, and the Pratt Museum.

Esther Cetina

Born in Anchorage, Alaska Esther Cetina is of Alutiiq and Filipino descent. Her mother is from Old Harbor, AK and father from Oregon. She is married to an Army Veteran and together they have 4 children, three boys and one girl. With over two decades in the non-profit healthcare sector, she has seamlessly transitioned through various roles, including serving as the Director of External Affairs at Old Harbor Native Corporation and the Administrator of Medical Services at Southcentral Foundation and currently is the CEO & Founder of Rising Solutions, consulting firm. As a consultant, she works with her clients in partnership, organizing comprehensive problem-solving strategies and developing strategic plans, ensuring alignment of business objectives, opportunities and driving sustainable growth.

Esther holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Alaska Pacific University, complemented by a bachelor’s in human services and Psychological Studies. Her dedication and impact were emphasized in 2017 when she was honored with receiving the “Top 40 Under 40” award from the Alaska Journal of Commerce. Adding to her accomplishments, she co-facilitated the “Charting the Future of Primary Care” training at Harvard Medical School.

Julie Dodds

Julie was born and raised in Northern New York. (She likes to say she moved to Alaska to get away from the winters in Northern New York.) She graduated from Hartwick College, a small Liberal Arts College, with a major in US  History and a minor in Education.  After  graduating she drove across the lower 48 and continued north to Alaska in 1979. Like so many people, she had planned to spend just one summer in Anchorage but never left.

Julie worked at the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau for 31 years and retired as a Vice President at the start of the pandemic.  But she soon found that retired life was not for her and is now the Development Director at Girl Scouts of Alaska.

Julie is married (43 years), has one son, a daughter-in-law, and an incredible 4 year old grandson and a very curious1 year old granddaughter.

Claudia Mauro

Claudia Mauro is a poet, science writer, and the founding director of the nonprofit literary publisher, Whit Press. She is the recipient of two Seattle Arts Commission CityArtist Grants, and a Wyoming Arts Council Creative Writing Fellowship in Poetry.

She is a voting member of the National Book Critics Circle and The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses. An alumna and former board member of Hedgebrook Writers’ Retreat, she has also served as a judge for the Lambda Book Awards.

Her books include; Stealing Fire and Reading the River (Whiteaker Press 1999, 2004), both Lambda Book Award finalists. She was a presenter at the inaugural TEDxSeattle speaking on the importance of independent media. Claudia also has extensive experience as a backcountry pilot in Alaska and was employed for over 20 years as a field science tech for the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, and for NOAA as Marine Survey Tech crew on their research and survey vessels.

Amy Penney

Amy Penney is a lifelong Alaskan with ten years’ experience in marketing and communications and program and project management. Currently working for the Alaska Forum, an environmental education-based nonprofit in Alaska, Amy serves as the Communications and Events Director. Prior to joining the Alaska Forum, Amy spent 7 years working in the Marketing Department of First National Bank Alaska.In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time in the great Alaska outdoors and enjoying a good book by a campfire, lake or river.  

Rhonda Sleighter

Rhonda Sleighter is a lifelong Alaskan, a graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a retired paralegal, and an avid reader. Rhonda worked on the steering committees of Left Coast Crime 2001 and Bouchercon 2007.  She believes in Storyknife and looks forward to participating in this endeavor.

Erin Coughlin Hollowell, Executive Director

Erin Coughlin Hollowell is a poet and writer who lives at the end of the road in Alaska. Boreal Books published her full-length poetry collections Pause, Traveler (2013) and Every Atom (2018). Her third collection Corvus and Crater was published by Salmon Poetry in 2023. She has been awarded two Rasmuson Foundation Fellowships, a Connie Boochever Award, and an Alaska Literary Award. She was appointed full-time executive director of Storyknife in 2018.
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Maura Brenin, Chef

Maura Brenin grew up in Vermont. Her mother introduced her to the kitchen when she was too small to hold a knife. Her mother, a devout Macrobiotic, spent hours preparing food with tremendous intention and love for their family. They ate locally, organically and holistically. Maura learned early that a simple meal could contain magic, to heal the soul and uplift and comfort the body.  She has always sought opportunities to work closely with food. 

Maura moved to Southeast Alaska in 1998 and opened her first restaurant in 2003, Maura’s Cafe and Fine Catering located in Historic Old Town Homer nestled closely next to the Bunnell Street Arts Center. Maura raised her son Asa in her kitchen, amidst bubbling cauldrons and sizzling pans.  She joyously spent fourteen years with her doors wide open to the amazing community of Homer.  In 2016, she welcomed her second son Henry and sold her restaurant. She has been privileged to continue cooking In Homer as a private chef.

Katie Emerick, Assistant

Katie Emerick, originally from Boulder, Colorado is a talented singer-songwriter whose passion for music led her to perform around Homer and Alaska for over a decade. A graduate of Long Island University’s Global College, Katie’s education abroad reflects her love for diverse cultures. Beyond her musical and traveling pursuits, she is known as a consummate hostess and caregiver, expressing warmth and hospitality. Katie relocated from New York City to Homer in 2008 where her first introduction to the community was writing for a local newspaper.  Since then, she has also spent many years working alongside Maura in the food service and catering industry.  Katie began her position at Storyknife in 2022.

Dana Stabenow, Founder, Board Member Emerita

Dana Stabenow was born in Alaska in 1952. She received a BA in journalism from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1973 and an MFA from UA Anchorage in 1985. She has written forty novels, the Alaska Traveler column for Alaska magazine, and a bunch of other stuff. She is the founder and current president of the board of directors of Storyknife. She lives in Homer, Alaska.

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