Affiliate Faculty

Affiliate Faculty

Michael Baldwin, M.S.

Michael Baldwin has worked as a behavioral health clinician and advocate for children, adolescents, adults and families affected by the consequences of FASDs for nearly 20 years. For seven years, he coordinated a multi-disciplinary FASD Diagnostic Clinic and Prevention Program.

Eric Boyer

Sarah Dewane, Ph.D., L.P.A.

Thomas Nighswander, M.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Nighswander has spent most of his career working with and caring for families in Alaska. He has been a member of the clinical staff at the Alaska Native Medical Center since 1977, the Facilitator for the Alaska Telehealth Advisory Commission since 1999, and the Medical Director of the State of Alaska FAS program. He has also spent an extensive amount of time working to better the health of children and families in Malawi, Africa.

Dr. Nighswander is currently the Assistant Dean for Clinical Medical Education (Alaska) at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a member of the Alaska WWAMI Steering Committee.

Addy Peters, M.A.

Marilyn Pierce-Bulger, F.N.P., C.N.M., M.N.

Marilyn Pierce-Bulger is a Family Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, and the Anchorage Diagnostic Team Coordinator at Assets Inc. She has more than thirty years' experience working with women, children, and families in Alaska.

Cheri Scott

Cheri Scott has years of experience working in the development and application of FASD training and support projects as a parent navigator and trainer at Stone Soup Group, a nonprofit organization serving families of Alaskan children and youth with special needs.

Ms. Scott previously managed the statewide FASD Family Support Program and was a trainer for parent navigators with the FASD diagnostic teams in Alaska.

Diana Steer, O.T./L.

Diana Steffen Steer graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Occupational Therapy in 1985. She currently works at UAA as the Academic Coordinator for the joint Creighton University/UAA Occupational Therapy doctoral program. She is certified in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test administration, as well as the "Nurtured Heart Approach", a strengths-based communication strategy for parents and educators designed to assist children who are unable to respond or benefit from traditional styles of praise and correction.

Ms. Steer also maintains a private practice in Occupational Therapy, holding contracts with Assests Inc., the Southcentral FASD Diagnostic Clinic, and Unalaska City School District. She is on faculty for Arctic FASD RTC, and on the advisory board for HOPE Alaska.

Ms. Steer's interest in sensory processing and FAS has evolved from an initial interest in autism and sensory processing. Her passion for helping others is derived from the phrase, "there is nothing wrong with the person; there is something wrong with the technique".  Drawing from a variety of experiences, Diana enjoys considering the interests of the individual, and finding creative solutions to maximize that person's ability to participate.  Because the effects of FAS are unique between individuals, and requires a systems approach to intervention, she has found it a nice fit to her training, professional background and area of personal interest.