SIOBHAN CHOI, PRESIDENT & CEO
Reach out at siobhan.choi@alaskaworldaffairs.org to connect or with any questions about the Council’s work.
LAUREN HUDSON, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Lauren grew up in Northern California and earned a degree in International Relations. During undergrad, she studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic and was an active participant in Model United Nations. Throughout college, Lauren gained hands-on experience through internships, volunteer roles, and employment at a variety of organizations, including the California Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts Summer Camp, the American Center, University of the Pacific’s School of International Studies, and the International Rescue Committee.
After graduation, Lauren relocated to Reno, Nevada, where she helped college students embark on their study abroad journey from Italy to Sweden to Spain and Portugal. Her passion for community and adventure led her to the Alaska Fellows Program in Anchorage. There, she fell in love with the Alaskan outdoors and tight-knit community and chose to stay beyond the program’s conclusion. She began a position at the University of Alaska Anchorage, serving international students, before transitioning to the Department of Psychology. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Alaska Southeast. In addition, Lauren serves part-time as a Coordinator for the Alaska Fellows Program, helping new participants embrace life in Alaska and connect with new communities. Since moving to Alaska, she has taken up cross‑country skiing, ice skating, contra dancing, learning to drive in the snow, knitting and has made close friends with many Alaskans along the way.
Lauren is responsible for AKWorld’s community outreach and membership services. Interested in partnering with us or inviting Alaska World Affairs Council to your community event? Get in touch with Lauren at lauren.hudson@alaskaworldaffairs.org.
NADIA HEFFERNAN, PROGRAMS & EVENTS MANAGER
Nadia has been drawn to world affairs since childhood, when she moved from Iowa to the Middle East with her family. During that time, she traveled extensively across Africa, Asia, and Europe, experiencing different cultures and learning the history of the places she lived and visited.
Upon returning to the United Status, she planned to pursue a career in the foreign service, but her path led her to law school and the petroleum industry. Her career involved negotiating oil and gas business deals around the globe, allowing her to continue traveling and occasionally living internationally.
When she traded international negotiations for toddler negotiations, Nadia turned her focus to nonprofit work, becoming actively involved in her local community government and schools.
After recently moving to Anchorage with her husband, three children, and all the pets, Nadia is eager to reconnect with her long-standing interest in international affairs by bringing the programs of AKWorld to the local community. Have a program idea or speaker we should host? Share your thoughts with Nadia at nadia.heffernan@alaskaworldaffairs.org.
Siobhan joined the Council in 2019 and has since played a pivotal role in advancing our mission through her leadership in events, development, and community engagement. Her commitment to connecting Alaskans with global ideas and dialogue has been a driving force behind the Council’s growth and impact.
Born and raised in Anchorage, Siobhan brings both deep local roots and a broad perspective shaped by her diverse professional experiences in accounting, hospitality, and nonprofit leadership. She is a proud graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, holding a double major in Business Marketing and Management, and has more than eight years of experience leading and developing teams.
Outside of her work, Siobhan enjoys exploring Alaska’s great outdoors and spending time with her two children, who remain her greatest inspiration.
We are thrilled to have Siobhan leading the Council into this new era of connection and discovery. Please join us in celebrating her appointment and in supporting the continued growth of our global community here in Alaska.