I-AC's Simmons receives "Woman of Courage" award

November 5, 2013

Cornerstone

The Alaska Federation of Natives has honored Interior-Aleutians Campus Director Teisha Simmons with the Hannah Solomon"Woman of Courage" award at the Alaska Federations of Natives last week. The award is given to an Alaska Native woman who demonstrates through her life and work the strengths of Native culture and values, and exhibits tremendous courage. Simmons is known for increasing opportunities for higher education for rural Alaska.

“We are inspired by Teisha’s accomplishments, especially in light of the challenges she faced,” says Maude Blair, vice president for Alaska Federation of Natives. “We were glad we got to meet her and we look forward to seeing more great things from her.”

At 15, Simmons survived a car accident that left her a quadriplegic and confined her to a wheelchair. After graduating from Howard Luke School as valedictorian, she received scholarships to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Simmons graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical community counseling. Prior to serving as Interior-Aleutians Campus Director, Simmons served as statewide program manager and faculty for the Rural Human Services Program.

An advocate for promoting opportunities for higher education in rural Alaska, Simmons is known for encouraging everyone to consider attaining a university certificate or degree. Under her direction, I-AC has increased the number of rural students who take UAF classes like wildland firefighting, tribal management and construction trades technology. She frequently speaks to Alaska Native and rural Alaska students and community groups about their opportunities for higher education and shares her story of her first day as a UAF student.

"I remember the first time that I went up to the university after graduating from high school,” says Simmons. “I was sure that I wasn't smart enough for college. I told my sister that I wasn't ready and that maybe I wasn't cut out for college. I will never forget what she said to me...'Teisha, your instructors will never ask you to write about something or test you on something they haven't taught you or told you to read and study. College isn't about how smart you are, it's about committing to attend class and disciplining yourself to study and get the homework done.’ She was so right.”