Board of Directors

president@folk.school
April Smurda is an Air Force Veteran who was raised in the Thumb of Michigan. Harbor Beach to be exact. She met her husband, Mark, at Clear Air Station in 1993, got married at Eielson in 1994 then traveled the world together only to end up back in Alaska at Eielson in 2015. They chose Fairbanks as their home as they thought it was the perfect place to raise their 3 kiddos. They love living amongst the Boreal forest and homeschool on their homestead-like property, living and learning, imparting as many old-school lessons and values as possible. And you will find them outdoors every single day. April has always loved crafting—especially learning traditional skills. Once she found The Folk School and took her first class she was hooked! Besides the joy of hands-on creating, she absolutely adores how The Folk School creates an opportunity for connection within the community. She takes A LOT of classes so there’s a good chance you will meet her at the next class you take. Please say hello!

Gordon Williams was raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He’s had a lifelong interest in the outdoors, handcrafts and building things (but makes no claims to being terribly good at them). He learned to be an avid photographer and general putterer from his father and to enjoy arts and crafts and volunteer work from his mother. After spending his college years in Massachusetts and Washington, he and his wife Leah got their first jobs in eastern Pennsylvania. After living and working there for seven years he finally got to come home to Alaska again in 2009 when he got a job as a math professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he pursues his passions for pattern, symmetry and education.

Doug Bishop was born and raised in Fairbanks’ Goldstream Valley.  He and his family spent considerable time dog mushing, canoeing, hunting, trapping and exploring the interior of Alaska.  Doug attended ICS, Monroe and UAF.  His wife Lisa is a teacher and their kids are out on their own adventures.  As the Chief Financial Officer for Doyon Utilities, he is office bound during the day but enjoys the outdoors, the skills that TFS teaches and supports the mission of TFS.  Doug looks forward to using his Alaskan background, CPA training and management experience to help TFS.

randall@folk.school
Randall Rozier, an architect in Fairbanks, grew up in Salcha spending most of his childhood building upon and exploring the banks of the Tanana River. After a brief stint out of state tromping around and pursuing an education he landed back in Fairbanks to pursue a career. Randall’s continued interest in the combination of the outdoors and local education opportunities drew him towards The Folk School of Fairbanks. Randall and his wife Brittany are more often outside than in, engaging in making the interior community their home, and ever exploring opportunities to learn.   

nathan@folk.school
Nathan Belz, an engineering professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, grew up in a small town in rural Maine in a house built in the late 1700s. The time he spent outdoors with his family instilled in him a love and appreciation for traditional means of making and doing which is what drew him to The Folk School. Nathan has called Fairbanks home since 2013 and enjoys exploring the nooks, crannies, and wilderness spaces that Alaska offers with his wife and Springer Spaniels.

blaine@folk.school
Blaine Rene Lunsford was raised in both Memphis, Tennessee and rural Saskatchewan. After moving to the prairies of Canada at the age of seventeen, Blaine quickly learned the value and beauty of relationship to the land, spending endless hours in the boreal forest and drawing inspiration from the world of nature. Blaine found her landing place in Fairbanks once her first niece was born, moving North to be with family and deepen her studio practice, creating works with a focus on natural dyes and pigment. Blaine has taught workshops with the Folk School since her first summer in the interior, and forged community relationships with local farms and botanical gardens. A passionate facilitator and social justice activist, the inclusive and somatically-informative hands on learning style The Folk School embodies aligns with her own values and passions. Blaine enjoys creative innovation and the nuances of communication and organization.