Board of Directors
The Kodiak Historical Society, which operates the Kodiak History Museum, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by a volunteer Board of Directors. Meetings of the Board are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 pm at the museum and are open to the public. To contact the Board of Directors, please send an email board@kodiakhistorymuseum.org.
Michael Bach, President
Michael Bach brings experience with collections and archives management across Alaska, having served at the Kodiak History Museum, the Alutiiq Museum and the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library. With a passion for access, Michael has overseen databases, executed quality assurance tests, and implemented policy structures aligned with industry best practices. Beyond his professional pursuits, Michael is an avid community participant, a long-distance runner, and an enthusiastic explorer. He takes great pride in contributing to the guidance of the organization and sharing the rich history and vibrant community of Kodiak.
Mary Tougas, Vice President
Mary (Leite) Tougas is a Koniag shareholder born and raised on Kodiak, Alaska. Father, Herman (Howie) Leite and mother Helen (Scroggs) Leite. After high school, Mary attended the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, studies focused on learning Russian and Business Administration. Fairbanks is where she met her husband of 46 years. Living in Seward, Alaska, Mary works with her families’ businesses, as vice-president of retail sales and travels back to the island as much as possible.
Strong non-profit experience with 10 years as Seward’s Tsunami Swim Club treasurer and later, President. Ten years with the Friends of the Seward Library Association, a nonprofit as President. Strong fund-raising experience with working to acquire a new library and museum facility, helping to raise 10M with State and Federal funding along with local community support.
Mary’s hobbies include traveling when she can, quilting, grandparenting, fishing, hiking, learning to knit and reading.
Candace Branson, Secretary
Candace celebrates Kodiak’s Indigenous arts, history and vibrant culture through language, dance, sewing, beading and advocacy. She is a Sun’aq Tribal Council Member and works for the First Alaskans Institute as their Indigenous Advancement Director where, as part of the leadership team, she is responsible for fundraising for the organization. She has a master’s degree and loves organizational development which includes problem solving to improve systems and structures to better serve her community. Candace is supportive of the continued work that Kodiak History Museum is doing toward decolonization.
Teri Mahle, Treasurer
Teri Mahle Schneider is the Executive Director of the Koniag Education Foundation, which is committed to advancing educational opportunities for the Alutiiq people. A lifelong resident of Kodiak, Teri brings 36 years of experience in public and private education, teaching preschool through grade 12. She also provided teacher training with a focus on Alaska Native Education. Teri has played a key role in developing cultural standards, the Alaska History requirement, and indigenous language revitalization.
Teri‘s rich heritage informs her work, with Scandinavian and Indigenous roots from Afognak Island through one parent and a strong West Virginian legacy and Coast Guard connection from the other. This unique cultural blend fuels her passion for community and education.
Outside work, Teri enjoys celebrating Kodiak’s natural beauty, connecting with family, learning history, and fostering community traditions and the arts.
Roberta Austring, Member
Roberta grew up in southeast Alaska and fondly remembers visiting museums throughout her youth, where she learned that a community’s museum is a valuable asset. Roberta believes that the movement of museums becoming centers of community is a worthwhile endeavor and that it is important for museums to evolve.
Toby Sullivan, Member
Originally from Connecticut, Toby came to Alaska at age 19 and fished around Kodiak and the state in the subsequent years. Toby has been writing about the lives of commercial fishermen for many years and a BA degree in English from University of Alaska, Anchorage, and MA degree in Creative Writing from Antioch University, Los Angeles. Toby believes in the importance of Kodiak’s history and is passionate about preserving and sharing that heritage with the public. He has been the Executive Director of the Kodiak Maritime Museum since 2008.
Amanda Lancaster, Member
Amanda Lancaster serves as the Curator of Collections at the Alutiiq Museum. As a museum professional, her expertise is in collections management, NAGPRA/repatriation, museum policies, copyright & intellectual property, and facility management. She is excited to be a part of Kodiak History Museum’s continued efforts to decolonize. Amanda and her husband have made Kodiak their home and enjoy hiking, kayaking, and exploring our beautiful island.
Sarah Simeonoff, Member
Sarah Simeonoff is an archaeologist and PhD student studying Kodiak archaeology at the University of Colorado Boulder. Through her PhD work, Sarah hopes to share the invaluable cultural information and archaeology of Alaska’s Sugpiat (Alutiiq) people with not just tribal members but the broader public. Sarah’s interests are rooted in a desire to preserve cultural resources for the future.