Melissa M. Berns resides in Kodiak, Alaska where she works for Koniag Education Foundation Inc. as Regional Education Coordinator. She was elected to the Board in 2016. Melissa also serves on OHNC’s Land Use Committee and Fisheries Committee. Melissa serves on the Kodiak & Aleutians Federal Subsistence Management Council, Alaska Department of Fish & Game Kodiak Advisory Council, Prince Willia Sound Regional Citizen Advisory Council Board of Directors, Cape Barnabas, Inc. Board of Directors, Old Harbor Alliance Board of Directors, Kodiak Harvest Co-Op Board of Directors, Koniag Shareholder Committee, Kodiak Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council and volunteers with the Kodiak Kids Wrestling Club.
Melissa has previously served or volunteered with the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor, Old Harbor USA Wrestling, Nuniaq Alutiiq Dancers, Nuniaq Cultural Camp, Old Harbor Annual Alutiiq Week, Kodiak Island Borough School District Indian Education Board, Old Harbor Scholarship Foundation Board, and Old Harbor Advisory School Board. Melissa has 20 years commercial fishing experience, holds a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Certification, Merchant Mariner License, Culinary Arts Certification, and graduates summer of 2019 with an AA in Ethnobotany. Her hobbies include traditional arts and she enjoys spending time with her family & animals in the outdoors hunting, fishing, gathering and gardening.