Sean Asikłuk Topkok, PhD

Director of the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies (CXCS)

“Uvaŋa atiġa Asikłuk. Ataataga Sanguk. Aanaga Aileen. Avuaraġa Fred suli Edgar. Aakaga Gussie suli Mary Iḷatga Iiġalugniagvik. Qawiaraġmuiruŋa. My Iñupiaq name is Asikłuk (pronounced ‘A-seek-a-luke’). My parents are the late Clifford and Aileen Topkok of Teller. My white fox name is Dr. Sean Topkok. I am Iñupiaq and Sámi. My family comes from Iiġalugniagvik (place to go fishing), the place name of Teller, Alaska. I am a person of Kawerak.” Asikłuk worked with the previous director of the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, Dr. Ray Barnhardt, and the late Dr. Angayuqaq Oscar Kawagley since 1997 through the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative (AKRSI) and the Alaska Native Knowledge Network (ANKN). ANKN is housed in the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies (CXCS), where Dr. Topkok worked as an Indigenous Curriculum Specialist to maintain the ANKN website and other responsibilities. Topkok started teaching as an adjunct professor at CXCS in 2006. Asikłuk earned his master’s degree in Cross-Cultural Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) in 2010. Topkok earned his PhD in Indigenous Studies in 2015, also at UAF. In 2014, Topkok became a faculty member within the School of Education, a tenure-track position in the graduate programs. He continued teaching under CXCS in the Indigenous Studies PhD program. In 2020, Dr. Topkok became a full-time faculty member at CXCS, became the Chair for CXCS in 2021. In 2023, Dr. Asikłuk Topkok became the Director for the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies.

Berice Anning, PhD

Dr Berice Anning is a current Co-Chair of the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) and an Executive Director of the WINHEC Executive Leadership Committee, the World Indigenous Nations University (WINU) and the World Indigenous Research Alliance (WIRA). Dr Anning has Aboriginal ancestry to the Keinjan, Gambuwal and Bidjara Tribes of Queensland, the Goomeroi Nation of NSW, and with familial connections to Jawoyn and Larrikia Nations in the Northern Territory; the Yidinji and Ngadjon Nations in Far North Queensland; and the Darug Nation in NSW, Australia. Dr Anning has worked in the following areas: - Teaching and Community Development in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (early childhood, primary, high school, playgroups, after school settings). - Strategic Leadership and management of workforce, academic and educational administrative portfolios in Higher Education (local, state, national, international). - Active development of national strategies to boost Indigenous education and employment through executive leadership in Indigenous Professional Bodies and Associations and representation globally. In these leadership roles Dr Anning has: - chaired the development of a suite of postgraduate awards for International Indigenous peoples; - established the World Indigenous Nations University inaugural PhD Graduate Programs in 2013; - facilitated publication of First Nations research and dissemination through global forums through the WINHEC’s Research Journal as Editor and Executive Committee member; - developed and designed curriculum and study materials, cultural standards for Learning and Teaching Practice, as well as for ethical research development; and - analysed policies relating to Indigenous education, research, Indigenous knowledges; internationalisation, and employment.