Employee Spotlight: Cami Zifko – Bridging Alaska’s Past and Present
by V. Heisser |
At the Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum in Valdez, Alaska, Cami Zifko brings history to life. With a background in anthropology and geography from the University of Montana, Cami combines academic insight with a deep personal connection to Alaska’s people and landscapes.
After recently moving here, Cami joined the museum at Prince William Sound College, where she helps curate a rich collection of Native Alaskan art, cultural artifacts, and natural history exhibits. From intricate carvings to fascinating fossils and taxidermy displays, the museum offers a layered narrative of Alaska’s heritage—and Cami is at the heart of it.
“During the summer, when cruise ships arrive, we often greet over 300 guests a day,” she says. “It’s rewarding to share Alaska’s complex history—its people, land, and legacy.”
Cami’s passion for Indigenous histories and archaeology fuels her work. She views the museum not just as a collection of objects but as a space for education and dialogue. Additionally, she is an aspiring nonfiction writer dedicated to documenting Alaska’s stories for future generations.
Outside of work, Cami is a proud mother of six and a grandmother to four, with two more grandchildren—twins—on the way this summer. Her life embodies the values she strives to uphold: family, heritage, and the stories that connect us.
Through her work, Cami Zifko is keeping Alaska’s history alive—one exhibit, one visitor, and one story at a time.