Board Members
Amber Cagwin
Team Leader 2026 - 2027
Amber has lived in the Fairbanks area for over 32 years. Her three children were born and raised in Fairbanks, and she has been a part of the UAF community since she moved here. Amber graduated from UAF with a B.S. in Biology and an M.B.A., and just celebrated her 25th year of working for the university.
Although Amber has only been a member of LWVTV for a year, she has always been a strong advocate of voter education. When she is not working or volunteering with one of the local organizations she is part of, Amber enjoys swimming, scuba diving, gardening, travel, competitive shooting, and metalsmithing.
Denise Daniello
Team Leader 2026 - 2027
Originally from Chicago, Denise has lived in Alaska for nearly 50 years. With a career rooted in public service – from state government, to local nonprofit organizations, and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks – Denise has spent more than 35 years championing the needs of Alaskans through senior services, research administration, teaching, and grant management. Denise serves on the boards for the Fairbanks North Star Borough Senior Citizen Advisory Commission (as Chair), for the statewide Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska (as board Secretary), and as a contributing member of the Alaska Geriatric Exchange Network (AGEnet). Serving on both the local and state LWV boards, Denise is committed to advance the League’s mission of fostering an informed, active electorate to strengthen our democracy.
Jessica King
Team Leader 2026 - 2027
Jessica King was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska and graduated from West Valley High School. She has earned a B.S. in Mathematics from the Fort Valley State University and completed a Secondary Education Licensure program with the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. She currently works as a Higher Education Counselor with the Department of Defense.
Inspired by her mother, Virgie M. King, she continues to run the African-American Student Leadership Conference; and remains involved in the Fairbanks community through the Fairbanks Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, the NAACP, and the League of Women Voters.
Janna Miller
Team Leader 2026 - 2027
Janna Miller has been a member of the League of Women Voters since shortly after reading Democracy in America by Alexander de Toqueville, which caused her to appreciate even more our unique and cherished system of government. She recently retired from a long career with Alyeska Pipeline and now enjoys taking OLLI classes, walking her dogs every day, playing her harmonica, and helping to educate voters.
Diane Lyon
Secretary 2025 - 2027
I’m a 30+ year resident of Alaska. I’ve been a member of LWVTV for several years and this is my second term on the Board. When not volunteering for LWV and other organizations, I work part-time at Fairbanks Drama Association and help care for my two grandchildren. LWVTV is the best thing I’ve done for myself, giving me a chance to channel energy into issues of great importance to me.
Mary Galvan
Treasurer - 2026 - 2028
Mary is rejoining the board, having previously served as a director and Treasurer. When not participating in league activities, she works as a CPA, knits, plays with her kiddo, and takes her Springer Spaniels for walks
Phyllis Darrah
Director - 2026 - 2028
Phyllis is a long time Fairbanksan. She has been very involved with the League serving on the Board several times since 2019. Recently she has been active with Kids Voting North Alaska. Family, gardening, promoting the Fairbanks community and defending rights and democracy are on her to-do list
Gayle Garrigues
Director - 2026 - 2028
Gayle Garrigues, born and raised in Alaska, has lived in Fairbanks since 1987. She has been a member of the LWVTV since 2019 and a board member since 2020. Gayle is a retired state prosecutor. She enjoys talking politics, gardening, and woodworking.
Shari George
Past President
2026 - 2027
Shari's career was in satellite image processing, remote sensing, and geographic information systems. Ventures into the Borough IT, distance education, Cooperative Extension and project management for a software development company kept things interesting. In League, she focuses on digital democracy, website management, hot topic organization and improving participation in local elections.
Mike Hostina
Director - 2025 - 2027
Mike, a mostly-retired attorney, currently serves as counsel to a non-profit in Fairbanks as well as a board member of the KUAC Friends Group. During his 39-year legal career in Alaska he served as General Counsel for the University of Alaska System, and Associate General Counsel & Director of Labor Relations. He also served as legal counsel to and deputy ombudsman for the State of Alaska's Ombudsman's office. He has had formal training in mediation and served on the Alaska Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on Mediation. In 1985 Mike, his friend and wife, Barb Santora and their two cats left Philadelphia for an adventure in Alaska. Two children, two careers, a succession of cats and dogs, and some years later the adventure continues.
Jean W. James
Membership 2026 - 2027
Jean W James has been living in Alaska since 1982. She first came to Alaska with her sister in August 1964 from Ohio via the Alcan Highway in a VW Bug. Her background includes working in health care management and years in research administration preparing proposals, budgets, managing grants and field stations.
She has been a LWVTV member since the mid-80’s and the treasurer/ membership person from 2012-2023. Voter education is one of her top priorities. She has a wide variety of interests, including skiing, kayaking, walking, swimming, reading, and loves being by the water.
Helenmarie Matesi
Director - 2026 - 2028
I have been a member of the LWVTV for approximately 10 years. Born in St Louis Missouri I grew up during the civil rights era and as part of a family seeking racial equality, participating in the movement from a very young age. I moved to Alaska in 1976 and as a black American Alaskan women it is my belief that voting is the most powerful peaceful method we have for effecting change. LWV is a champion for the security of our right to vote. I have served on the board, as a vice president and chair the Diversity Committee.
I love Alaska and here I have worn many hats, but the constant thread has been teaching. My students have ranged in age from three to eighty three. I have lived in the bush, retired from U of A and currently work with the NAACP Criminal Justice Committee. My newest interest is metal smithing.
Kaneisha Radgosky
Director - 2026 - 2028
Kaneisha is an award-winning health professional who has made her home in Fairbanks since 2014. She is an avid dog enthusiast and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Deb Ryan
Director 2025 - 2027
Deb drove across country to Fairbanks in 1979 ad accepted a job in Barrow staying until the mid-1980's. Returning to Barrow, now known as Utqiagvik, in 2011 and back to Fairbanks in 2018, she became active in environmental issues and learning more about local and state government. She feels lucky to have lived, worked and traveled in many Interior and Arctic communities.
Linda Witt
Director 2026 - 2027
Linda hails originally from the Seattle area and has lived in Fairbanks since 1966. With her late husband, David, she raised three children, all of whom, and their families, live here. She is a retired public school teacher and currently a regular elementary substitute teacher. She has been involved in League actively for 30 years serving on the board of LWVTV and LWVAK, including two terms as local president and two terms as Alaska statewide president. She has attended three LWV national conventions and two LWV national councils
Officers and Board May 15, 2025 - May 16, 2026
Officers
Co-Presidents
Sue Sherif
Linda Witt
Vice-President
Jessica King
Secretary
Diane Lyon
Treasurer
Vicki Koehler
Board
Gayle Garrigues
Mike Hostina
Helenmarie Matesi
Janna Miller
Deb Ryan
Marna Sanford
Leah Berman Williams
Appointed
Past President
Shari George
Membership/Roster Mgt
Jean W. James