Iḷisaġvik College Expresses Deep Gratitude to Dr. Pearl Kiyawn Brower and Jesse Darling for Generous Donation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 24, 2025
Utqiaġvik, Alaska — Iḷisaġvik College is pleased to celebrate a generous $10,000 contribution
from Dr. Pearl Kiyawn Brower, President and CEO of Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC),
and her husband, Jesse Darling, Owner of Amaguq Media. Their gift reflects a deep
commitment to the success of North Slope students and the strength of the College’s
mission.
The donation will support Iḷisaġvik’s GivingTuesday campaign, Student Government, and Iñupiaq Studies. GivingTuesday—a global generosity movement recognized annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States—inspires people and organizations around the world to give, collaborate, and celebrate shared values. By matching Iḷisaġvik’s GivingTuesday efforts, Dr. Brower and Darling will help amplify the impact of contributions made during the campaign. Community members who wish to participate in GivingTuesday and take advantage of this generous matching opportunity may give at: https://www.ilisagvik.edu/give/.
Their gift will also strengthen Student Government programming, leadership development,
and student-led activities, while enhancing the Iñupiaq Studies Program that perpetuates
and shares Iñupiat knowledge, language, and culture—core to the mission of Alaska’s
only Tribal College. Dr. Brower and Darling share that “Supporting our Utqiaġvik community,
and the North Slope, is incredibly important to
both of us. In particular Higher Education, which we truly believe is the catalyst
for changing lives and making communities like ours more healthy. In addition, we
want to continue the legacy of giving of my dad, Price E. Brower, who gave selflessly
to our community his whole life—we give with him in mind— supporting our community’s
future.”
“We are incredibly grateful to Pearl and Jesse for their leadership, generosity, and continued dedication to Iḷisaġvik College,” said Justina Wilhelm, President of Iḷisaġvik College. “Their investment strengthens student engagement and reinforces our mission of providing education consistent with Iñupiaqatigiigñiq (Iñupiaq values). It is especially gratifying since Dr. Brower served as president of Iḷisaġvik for many years, and the whole family—Pearl, Jesse, and their daughters, Isla and Sindri—remain Iḷisaġviŋmiut—part of the College in perpetuity.”
Serving as President of Iḷisaġvik College from 2012 to 2020, Dr. Brower has long championed
Tribal higher education. Her and Darling’s donation continues that legacy, providing
meaningful support to current and future students. Pearl shared that “Iḷisaġvik College
has been an incredible organization on the North Slope for decades—and I can’t wait
to see what the future holds for it. The College has grown
in both students numbers and breadth of classes—always being responsive to the needs
of the North Slope and beyond. I am most excited to continue to see it’s growth with
Iñupiaq Studies programming and would love to see an additional bachelors degree offered
when the time is right.”
Iḷisaġvik College extends its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Brower and Jesse Darling for
their continued commitment to advancing educational opportunities and fostering the
next generation of North Slope leaders.
About Iḷisaġvik College
Located in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, Iḷisaġvik College is a federally recognized Tribal College
accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Iḷisaġvik provides
quality post-secondary academic, career and technical education in a learning environment
that perpetuates and strengthens Iñupiat culture, language, values, and traditions.
Iḷisaġvik College is a public, non-profit organization.
Iḷisaġvik College Contact:
Caitlin Walls
Executive Director of Institutional Advancement
caitlin.walls@ilisagvik.edu