University of Arizona law student awarded 2026 Judson Brown scholarship

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has selected a student as the recipient of the 2026 Judson L. Brown Leadership Award.

Gloria Wolfe, who is pursuing a master’s degree in law and policy at the University of Arizona, was chosen due to her academic achievement and exceptional leadership roles within several tribal organizations. She has held several leadership positions, including the Indigenous leadership director at First Alaskans Institute, the cultural heritage director for the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe and secretary for the Alaska Native Sisterhood. She’s also the director of the nonprofit White Raven and has united hundreds by creating the Yakutat Surf Club.

In 2024, Wolfe established Khaaswóot Collective, LLC, a consulting practice dedicated to strengthening Indigenous organizations by offering services such as policy review, grant writing, program development and strategic planning. The practice allows Wolfe to collaborate with Indigenous scholars to influence policy, research and institutional guidance, forming the foundation she intends to continue building upon.

After graduating from the University of Arizona next May, Wolfe plans to pursue a Ph.D. through the Law and Policy program at the University of Arizona or the

Indigenous Studies program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. By serving government and nonprofit entities and leading research projects, she hopes to continue creating pathways for other Indigenous leaders.

“The generations before us carried our languages, our songs, our protocols and our ways of living through extraordinary hardship so I could stand where I am today,” Wolfe said. “I look forward to the future where our children inherit more institutions that reflect our values, where Indigenous leadership is expected and our communities continue to thrive on our own terms.”

About the Judson Brown Scholarship

The Judson L. Brown Leadership Award was established by Chris and Mary McNeil in 2006 to honor the legacy of Chris’ uncle, Tlingit leader Judson Lawrence Brown. Brown was the first chair of the Sealaska Heritage Foundation — now known as Sealaska Heritage Institute — and a strong advocate for education and leadership development. The $5,000 award supports students who demonstrate exceptional leadership and academic achievement and a commitment to preserving Native culture and languages.

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a non-profit tribal organization founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cross-cultural understanding by educating the general public about the Indigenous cultures of Alaska. SHI also conducts scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee, a Southeast Regional Language Committee and an Education Committee.

Caption: 2026 Judson Brown scholarship recipient Gloria Wolfe. Photo courtesy of Gloria Wolfe. Note: News outlets are welcome to use this photo for coverage of this story. For a higher-res version, contact kathy.dye@sealaskaheritage.com.