Faculty

Joel Markis - Associate Professor/Program Director

jamarkis@alaska.edu or 907-747-7760

Growing up in Southcentral Alaska, Joel was continuously exposed to the outdoors and fisheries. After graduating from Bartlett High School in Anchorage, he pursued a growing passion for fisheries by attending Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, where he honed his skiing and fly fishing skills, but also received a B.S. in Fish and Wildlife Management. During his senior year at MSU Joel participated in the National Student Exchange attending Florida International University in Miami Florida. While at FIU Joel studied marine biology and tropical ecology and tied it all together attaining his Master SCUBA Diver certification. After graduating, the newfound knowledge allowed Joel to work various fisheries jobs all over Alaska, traveling to exotic places all under the context of 'work.' After spending time in places like Katmai, Aniakchak, Kenai Fjords, Denali, the Tongass, and Wrangell St. Elias he decided to pursue a graduate degree in Marine Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he used SCUBA to study the nearshore fish and habitat complexity in Kachemak Bay.

Before coming to the UA system, Joel worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, helping manage sportfish resources in southcentral Alaska and then working as a research fisheries biologist with the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve in Homer, AK. While there he studied marine ecology and questions pertaining to fish habitat use in the nearshore environment. Joel also coordinated a nationwide water quality and meteorological monitoring project and worked on hardshell clam recruitment and growth studies focused on determining the timing of spawning, recruitment and growth of pacific littleneck clams.

Joel has been with the Fisheries Technology Program since 2013 when he was an outreach coordinator and adjunct faculty at the Homer, AK campus. Since moving to Sitka, AK in 2014 Joel has worked into a tenured track position and now directs the Fisheries Technology Program. In his free time, Joel enjoys backcountry skiing, fishing, sailing, is an avid SCUBA diver and dive instructor, and generally likes spending time outside. He is passionate about teaching and Alaskan fisheries. Joel currently lives in Sitka with his two young daughters and wife Courtney.

Anthony Walloch - Instructor

Anthony was born and raised in the state of Wisconsin and grew up with his backyard being a part of 20 acres of forest habitat. From a young age he has enjoyed and respected the beauty of the outdoors. He attended and graduated high school in Fall Creek, WI. He then perused a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science at University of Wisconsin – Stout. While attending the UW – Stout he got to be a part of a grant funded project called the Chippewa Moraine Ephemeral Ponds project. While working, to collect data for further understanding of ecological communities within ephemeral ponds, helped him discover his passion for scientific research.

Anthony then found himself in Sitka, AK attending the University of Alaska Southeast to become a scientific diver. During the semester intensive course, He obtained PADI certifications for Open Water Diver, Advanced Diver, Dry Suit Diver, Research Diver, and Rescue Diver. He also became an AAUS qualified diver by the time the dive semester was complete.  The following year he was given the opportunity to become a diving assistant helping new students complete the same classes. During which he obtained his Dive Master Certification. Anthony has been on 112 dives within the surround waters of Sitka, AK.

After spending his time diving in Sitka, he found it hard leave and found opportunities working seasonally with Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a Wildlife Technician and is a volunteer with the Sitka Fire Department. He also enjoys spending his free time hiking, camping, slacklining, longboarding, biking, surfing and fly fishing. He is passionate about helping others and conserving the beautiful environments that we are fortunate enough to observe.

Haleigh Damron - Instructor

Haleigh Damron was born and raised on the sunny coast of Southern California. She grew up spending most of her time outdoors, surfing, hiking, or swimming. In high school, Haleigh became a PADI Open Water diver and knew she wanted to pursue a career in underwater sciences. In 2016, she graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a BS in Marine Biology. She joined the UAS Alaska Dive Semester in 2019 and has been in Sitka loving life ever since. She has helped out with various marine research projects throughout Alaska, is excellent at serving pizza, and has a really cool dog. She is very, very excited to become a Divemaster and is even more excited to be apart of the Alaska Dive Semester! Haleigh believs strongly in the value of educationa and is excited to help guide prospective diving students on their journey as she helps impart the welth of knowledge she has gained in the couple hundred Alaska coldwater dives.

 

 

Reid Brewer - Professor/Dive Instructor (Emeritus)

Reid graduated from high school in Charlotte, NC, and went to college at the US Military Academy at West Point. At West Point Reid earned a BS in Environmental Science and Systems Engineering. Upon graduating, Reid was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army and attended helicopter flight school in Fort Rucker, AL. In 1997, Reid worked as a platoon leader and pilot as part of the SETAF Aviation Brigade in Vicenza, Italy. In 2000, Reid got out of the Army and attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks for a Masters Degree in Marine Biology.

In 2004, Reid took his first university job as the first ever Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Agent in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, AK. With Alaska Sea Grant, Reid worked to provide marine education and outreach opportunities in the community of Unalaska covering topics spanning marine mammal strandings to tidepool camps for kids. In 2007, Reid received his instructor rating as a PADI SCUBA instructor and has been teaching diving ever since. After almost 10 years in Unalaska with Alaska Sea Grant, Reid took a job with the University of Alaska Southeast in 2013 as the Program Manager of the Fisheries Technology program. In 2016, Reid completed his PhD on the seasonal ecology and life-history of giant Pacific octopus in the Bering Sea with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Reid enjoys diving, kiteboarding, hiking, distance swimming, and spending time with his wife Sarah, and their two boys. Reid is now the Campus Director of the Kachemak Bay Campus of UAA in Homer, Alaska.