Beki Toussaint
Beki Toussaint is the Executive Director of Alaska Resource Education, where she has spent over a decade developing and managing education programs that connect students from across Alaska with the state’s natural resources. She brings a hands-on approach to her leadership, overseeing program logistics, organizational finances, and the board of directors, while remaining deeply involved in teaching both students and teachers. Beki’s work emphasizes mentorship, community engagement, and inspiring young people to explore careers in Alaska’s natural-resource fields.
Beki’s journey into environmental education began in high school when her science teachers encouraged her to follow her passion for science and helping others learn. She pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources and Education at Colorado State University, followed by a Master’s in Environmental Science at Alaska Pacific University, during which she discovered a new species of octopus. Early in her career, she combined classroom teaching with hands-on experience as an environmental scientist to ensure that her educational programs were grounded in practical scientific knowledge.
Over the years, Beki has expanded her impact beyond the classroom. She leads women-focused outdoor education programs such as Becoming an Outdoor Woman, serves as a hunter education instructor, and participates in multiple boards and nonprofit organizations, including the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and the Mayfly Project. With her unique blend of scientific expertise, teaching experience, and organizational leadership, Beki has built a career that not only educates but also inspires Alaskans to engage with and protect their natural environment.
• Hunter Education Instructor
• Alaska Pacific University- M.S.
• Colorado State University- B.S.
• Top 40 Under 40
• Alaska Workforce Investment Board
• Alaska Association of Career and Technical Education Board
• Velocity AK
• AK Afterglow
• Mentor for the Mayfly Project (supporting foster children through fly fishing)
• Hunter Education Instructor (teaching gun safety and hunter education in schools and to the general public)
• Becoming an Outdoor Woman instructor (teaching women about firearms and outdoor safety)
• Active volunteer with AK Afterglow (child loss support nonprofit)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my network, my support network. All of the people who have been there for me in the positive times and in the low times, who have let me bounce ideas off of them and come to them with problems. Definitely my family, my friends, and my mentors and role models. Just a whole network of people behind me. My high school science teachers were particularly important - they were my mentors and role models in my life who helped me figure out my path when I realized being a dolphin vet wasn't going to work out. They asked me about what I loved and what I was passionate about, and helped me see that I could combine my love of helping people learn to love something I loved with my passion for science by becoming a science educator. That guidance from them set me on the path I'm still on today.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I had a mentor one time tell me to walk a path of information, imitation, and innovation. It was this idea of, like, with a mentor or something: I talk, you listen. You do, I watch. You do, I smile from a distance. It's about how to learn things and grow. I guess kind of just a mentality of staying true to yourself and finding a path and a company or organization that will help you stay true to that passion and your vision and drive. That's helped me land where I am.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to build strong networks of mentors and peers who will support and challenge them throughout their careers. It’s also important to seek out and create safe learning environments where you can grow your skills and confidence.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is delivering consistent, high-quality education across Alaska, especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities. At the same time, there is an important opportunity to expand programs like hunter education to promote firearm safety and better support communities statewide.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Traveling is probably my biggest passion - I love traveling, I've been all over the world, and I love immersing myself in new cultures and meeting new people. Here at home, we do a lot of fly fishing and hunting, and we have a cabin out on a lake, so we spend a bunch of time out at our cabin. We fish, we ice fish, and do all that. Lots of outdoor time, trying to get the family outside a bunch. I've got two little kiddos, so I'm trying to get them to explore Alaska. And then just lots of family and friend time. We're far away from everybody, so our community's kind of our family up here, and so just lots of time together. Quality time is my love language. Networking and people are always my thing - having a network of women that are pushing the boundaries in their careers would be good people to have in your corner and be a part of. I'm also very passionate about supporting families who walk through child loss, because my husband and I lost our first son at birth, so we're very active in that community and put a lot of effort into trying to support other families so they don't feel like they have to walk that journey alone.