Enep’ut Children’s Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation governed by a board of directors. Enep’ut’s bylaws mandate that the board be composed of at least seven directors, and two directors of those seven will be staff advocates. Parents, staff, and interested community members are members of the corporation and vote on issues directed to the general membership. Directors are then voted in at the yearly fall membership meeting and appointments last one year. Parents and staff are encouraged to attend and participate in monthly board meetings. Please contact the Board of Directors at boardofdirectors@eneput.org if you have any questions.
Meet our
Board Members
Maria Skejskal
President
Maria works for the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Maria is both a creative and analytical mind and brings many skills to the Enep’ut board of directors. She is an excellent grant writer and mediator.
Mary Bullis
Vice President
Bio not available
Taryn Lopez
Treasurer
Taryn is the proud mama of a sweet, energetic, and curious Enep’ut toddler. She loves getting outside with her family for bike rides and walks, practicing yoga, and spending time with her little one. She is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute where she studies volcanoes as part of the Alaska Volcano Observatory. She hopes to contribute to the board through her strong organizational skills, grant-writing experience and passion to help foster a safe, diverse, welcoming and positive environment for the Enep’ut families and teachers.
Michael Gonzales-Smith
Member-at-Large
Michael was born and raised in Fairbanks but has family roots throughout Alaska. He graduated from UAF and now works as an electrical engineer. It’s a demanding job but Michael is known for staying even-keeled no matter the situation – something he’s rather famous for. He’s worked on a variety of engineering projects from health facilities to airports to expanding the local library which Michael’s wife, Karina, is personally invested in. They met at UAF, became best friends, and the rest is history. Michael is a doting dad to Connell, a toddler at Enep’ut. He’s an excellent cook (a gift from his mom) and a talented Mr. Fix It. When not busy keeping his wife and son happy, Michael watches football and anime. He loves to eat and travel just like his wife, but he also wants to get back to exploring the outdoors. Michael strives to be an unbiased sounding board, a patient listener, and a logical visionary.
Karen Yeh
Member-At-Large
Karen was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with an MA in Teaching English to Foreign Speakers. She now lives in Fairbanks, where she is a primary caretaker to an Enep’ut Toddler and works as a freelance sales rep for two Taiwanese Design brands. She has more than ten years of administration experience, including five years as Secretary to the CFO of Amway Taiwan. She is a detail-oriented and (most of the time) well-organized person, with a lot of patience. She loves exploring the planet, hiking, and trying a new recipe every day.
Karina Gonzales-Smith
Member-At-large
Karina moved from the tropic to the Arctic when she was a child and has called Fairbanks home ever since. She’s an alumna of UAF and UAA where she studied biology and public health. Nowadays she’s a communications manager and instructor at UAF. Karina is completely devoted to her son Connell, a toddler at Enep’ut. She’s happy to share the amazing and humbling journey of parenthood with her college sweetheart Michael. Karina enjoys eating, reading, befriending animals, making her family laugh, and traveling to places she’s read about. She deeply values connecting with people, finding ways to grow, and being gracious.Karina believes the hard work and loving care of Enep’ut teachers should be appreciated and acknowledged.
Jessica Conklin
Member-at-Large
Bio not available
Richard Wilson
Member-At-Large
Bio not available