Originally from Arctic Village, Charlene is an enrolled member of the Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American Cultural Studies from Western Washington University, a master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Charlene has 6+ years of experience providing technical planning assistance to tribal and municipal governments in rural Alaska.