The Forum's programs keep expanding and our staff roster grows to accommodate!

Meet Workshop Coordinator Aud Pleas and Vice President of Development Rachael McPherson. Both joined us in October, and are fully engaged in their new roles.

Joining the Forum on Oct. 1, Aud Pleas is a media advocate, community organizer, and disc jockey with a background in events and major music festival productions. A lifelong Alaskan, residing in Eagle River with over a decade of experience in academia and media, they spend a majority of their time connecting local youth and young adults to resources to help propel their futures.

Aud recently completed the Community | Media | Possibility Journovation Fellowship with the Forum in April and serves on the See Stories Board of Directors and University of Alaska Anchorage Media Board as the alumni representative.

Rachael McPherson joined the Forum on Oct. 25 in a new position as Vice President of Development. A lifelong Alaskan with a passion for community building and philanthropy, Rachael grew up in Fairbanks, then attended The University of Montana where she received a bachelor’s degree in journalism. After some time working in TV news, she decided it wasn’t for her and moved to Laramie, Wyoming where she received a Masters of Public Administration.

Returning to Alaska she started working in development and has been with Girls Scouts of Alaska, Big Brothers Big Sisters and, most recently, Planned Parenthood in Alaska. Rachael believes philanthropy is about connections and creating stronger communities and is so excited to see what the Forum can achieve.

Rachael and her spouse, Iain, have two young kids, as well as a family throughout Alaska, and can’t imagine living anywhere else.