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.
Toby Sullivan, President
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.
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.
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.
Michael Bach, Member
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.
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.
Tyler Wallace, Member
Tyler Wallace joined the Kodiak Historical Society Board of Directors in 2021. He works as a financial advisor for Edward Jones and is eager to contribute financial expertise to the organization and learn more about our community through his service to the Kodiak Historical Society. When asked why he serves, Tyler said, “You can’t know where you are going unless you know where you came from. Having perspective on where we were and what we’ve changed is valuable.”