Jennifer Hanlon serves as the Projects and Partnerships Manager. This is a new position that is dedicated to nurturing relationships with Sitka Tribe of Alaska (STA) and other Tribes to support tribally driven research projects. Part of her work includes educating visiting researchers on tribal governance and tribal sovereignty. 

Jennifer grew up in her ancestral homelands of Yakutat, Alaska. She is Teik.weidi (Eagle/Brown Bear clan) and daughter of the Luknax.adi (Raven/Coho Salmon clan). Her cultural upbringing inspired her to pursue an education and career in natural resources management. She has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law & Policy from Vermont Law & Graduate School and a Certificate in Working in Contemporary Native Nations from the University of California, Los Angeles Extension.  

Prior to joining the SSSC Team, Jennifer spent over a decade planning, developing, and implementing tribal stewardship programs from previous tenures at the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and the Ketchikan Indian Community. She also served as the Tribal Relations Officer for the Tongass National Forest to help guide the U.S. Forest Service with upholding its trust responsibilities to Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations. In all of her roles, Jennifer has understood the value of respectful communication, collaboration, and supporting each other during times of collective need. 

During the evenings and weekends, Jennifer can be found working on beadwork, picking berries, and going on hikes with her husband, Jonathan, and their two dogs.