Bering Straits Villages
Megan Onders joined the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) in July as the Director of Ocean Engagement. Onders was born and raised in Nome, Alaska and is Ugiuvak (King Island) Iñupiaq. In September, she launched an Ocean Knowledge Radio Show on KNOM featuring news about the Arctic Ocean, Chukchi and Bering seas. Onders was also recently appointed to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Community Engagement Committee. Onders previously served as the Self-Governance Liaison for Norton Sound Health Corporation to help establish a path to water and sewer service for unserved communities. She was the Alaska Federation of Native’s 2016 Keynote speaker, served as the Chief of the King Island Native Community in Nome, Alaska, and is a former Commissioner of the Port of Nome. She was a professional staffer for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and a legislative assistant for Senator Lisa Murkowski in Washington D.C. responsible for policies addressing infrastructure and sanitation, housing, health delivery, public safety and justice, as well as fish and wildlife management. As the lead staffer for Senator Murkowski, Onders worked to establish the Senate Arctic Caucus. Onders takes pride in learning the Ugiuvak language. She earned a Master’s in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. in Economics from George Mason University.