Staff
Vangie Wight, Executive Director
vangie@anchoragecreeks.org
I joined AWC as staff in 2012. While many of my initial responsibilities focused on administrative tasks, there have been several opportunities to participate in various projects and programs. I have served as the coordinator for two of our annual events: Scoop the Poop Day and Creek Cleanup, both of which I find fulfilling and rewarding community outreach programs. Recently, I began overseeing CEMP--our water quality monitoring program. I have a strong passion for nature and enjoy projects that allow me to spend time outdoors and have had several opportunities to engage with the community through various activities, including creekside classes, fundraisers, and tabling events. I look forward to collaborating regularly with our AWC organization members and board of directors as we shape and implement our future goals for local watersheds.
Kaitlan McLallen, Outdoor Educator
kaitlan@anchoragecreeks.org
Born and raised in Anchorage Alaska, Kaitlan has always had a great love for the outdoors. Following this passion led her to earn a B.S in Marine and Environmental Science with a concentration in Ecology from Alaska Pacific University. Part of her experience includes working in collaboration with the Alaska Center for Conservation Science and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a research project examining macroinvertebrate communities and water quality throughout Anchorage. She also has experience conducting similar research with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. One of her greatest interests is educating others about the complexities and importance of stream ecosystems. In her free time Kaitlan enjoys exploring Alaska, photography, and spending time with her family. She is excited to be a part of the AWC team, and looks forward to the opportunity to share her passion for nature.
Cherie Northon, Ph.D., APDES Director
cherie@anchoragecreeks.org
In early 2025, Cherie who has been the Executive Director of AWC since 2010, stepped back to direct AWC's participation in the Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination Program (APDES) program. For the past 15 years, AWC has overseen the outreach and public education component of the program's stormwater discharge permit.
She brings her 15 years of managing it and other AWC programs to facilitate the important work that reducing the impacts of stormwater runoff is for improving the health and enjoyability of Anchorage's many creeks and lakes.