Nicole “Nikki” Stoops is the Vice President of Engagement. She joined AFN in July 2022.
In this leadership role, Nikki helps advance stakeholder and membership involvement, guide AFN’s communications and branding efforts, and contribute to building the broad support necessary to advance AFN’s mission. As Vice President of Engagement, she plays a key role in shaping how AFN is perceived, understood, and supported.
She currently volunteers for the RurAL CAP Board of Directors on behalf of AFN. She received the Top 40 Under 40 Award from the Alaska Chamber of Commerce and the Native American 40 Under 40 Award from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development in 2019.
Nikki was the Executive Director for the Native Village of Kotzebue before relocating with her family to Anchorage to serve as the Senior Director of Corporate Communications at the NANA Regional Corporation.
She is a shareholder of the NANA Regional Corporation and the Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation and is an enrolled tribal member of the Native Village of Kotzebue.
Nikki earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. She resides in Anchorage with her husband, Jake, and their two sons, Casey and Cale. Her favorite pastime is cheering them on during their baseball games.