Calista Education and Culture, Inc. Appoints Denise Brown-Chythlook as Executive Director
August 23, 2024
Denise Brown-Chythlook, CECI Executive Director
(±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą, Alaska) – Calista Education and Culture, Inc. (CECI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Denise Brown-Chythlook as Executive Director. With a deep commitment to advancing educational and cultural initiatives, Denise brings a wealth of experience and a visionary approach to the role.
“Under Denise’s guidance, Calista Education and Culture will continue to grow and make a lasting impact,” says Johnnie Evan, CECI Board Chair. “She has a passion for education and knows that we encourage a strong cultural foundation to learning.”
Denise will assume the role immediately and will focus on strengthening partnerships, raising the CECI’s profile throughout the state, expanding scholarship programs, broadening the visibility of CECI’s culture preservation efforts, and ensuring CECI’s sustainability.
Denise brings 20 years of leadership experience in arts and culture education, in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Throughout her career she has specialized in outreach and increasing the visibility of organizations while ensuring long-term sustainability. She has a bachelor’s in psychology and communications and is pursuing an Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership. Denise and her husband, Gary Chythlook, and their three children have lived in ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą since 2003.
“Culture defines us, connects us, and nourishes us. It is the foundation of who we are,” says Denise. “I am honored to collaborate with the Board and staff by furthering CECI’s inspiring purpose of empowering ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą with education and promoting self-determination and cultural pride.”
The mission of Calista Education and Culture, Inc. (CECI) is to celebrate and promote Yuuyaraq, the traditional “way of being” in the Calista Region which inspires and encourages our people to achieve their dreams through education. CECI was established in 1980 as an Alaska Native owned nonprofit organization. CECI provides scholarships, burial assistance, Yuuyaraq cultural camps and works to publish bilingual books in English and Yup’ik. Since 1994, CECI has provided more than $6.4 million in scholarships to Calista ±«ÓăÖ±˛Ą and Descendants. CECI can be found on the web at and on .