About Justine

About Justine
Justine had 3 different jobs that she was paid for and many that she was not in 2022. She started the year as the Youth Programs Manager for the Denali Education Center, spent 7 months as the Rural Student Coordinator for the GED program run by the Literacy Council of Alaska, and is now an Academic Advisor for the Degree Completion program at University of Alaska Fairbanks. But the biggest job she had this year was building a house with Josh.
Nether she or Josh had built a house before but they learned lots quite quickly (don't try this at home)	They also didn't kill each other even after working long, hard days and with a strict deadline for getting the roof on (before the snow started!)
So many new employable construction skills!	But no more roofling, thank you.
She got to travel all over Alaska for work and fun. Here she's in Juneau for the Alaska Folk Fest.	Inluding a visit to Point Hope! As Rural Student Coordinator she was in charge of all GED programs in most of northern Alaska. This job gave Justine an appreciation for rural Alaskan living and problems within the Alaskan education system.
She & Josh did many trips in the backcountry, including bike packing in the Eastern Alaska Range.	And a week long backpacking trip out of Anuktuvuk Pass in the remote Brooks Range.
Justine convinced her entire lower 48 family to come visit this year. Eric, Marta (who were excited to try fatbiking) and Stephanie came in March, then Lisa, Steve, and Eric all visited for various amounts of time in August to pick blueberries and help build the house. So fun!

Mostly though, she hung out with Josh. They traveled to the lower 48 twice (most of the warmer pictures) and delighted in the reopening of their favorite dancing places and generally loved Alaska, cold and all.
She finished her Masters Degree in Environmental Education in May...	And mastered NOT getting her arm broken by a moose that kicked her in March.
She still is Tula's (Don and Anne's dog) favorite, even though she plays with Tula's hair.	Justine also found many other ways to spend time around dogs and think about stealing sled dog puppies.
Even though her most recent jobs have involved more computer work and time indoors, she still manages to make it outside plenty - even running when it is 40 below!
Even though she lives near the artic circle, Justine spends more time outdoors than the rest of us combined. THIS JUST IN: Justine was awarded the "Extreme Schmidt" award in December for going out for a run at 40 below. Brrrrrrrrr!