UAF Fairbanks Tall Timbers Series 2024: An Evening with Jennifer Jolis

The Fairbanks Tall Timber Series honors those who have served the Fairbanks community well. Join veteran newsman Robert Hannon as he interviews Jennifer Jolis. Jennifer Jolis moved to Chalkyitsik, Alaska, in 1966 as a VISTA Volunteer. That experience changed her life and continues to influence her today. After moving to Fairbanks, Jennifer has been a clerk at Safeway (in the building that is now the downtown Post Office), a social worker, a restaurant owner (twice), camp cook in the Aleutians, book store manager, meeting and convention director for the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau, instructor of culinary arts and finally retired in 2017 as the Executive Director of the nonprofit Bread Line, Inc. Jennifer’s motivation has always been about people and connecting people with people. Jennifer was one of the founders of the Fairbanks Child Protection Task Force; she was instrumental in welcoming the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention to Fairbanks; she owned and operated two restaurants that filled her with proud moments and lifelong friends. In 2016, Jennifer was named a Woman of Distinction by the Farthest North Girl Scout Council. Currently, Jennnifer is closely involved in creating the Fairbanks HopeLink’s Warming Shelter. Jennifer states, “The people of Fairbanks and Alaska have made this my home and allowed me to follow many different paths. To make differences large and small. From my first morning in Fairbanks, looking out my window in Skarland Hall (UAF), across the valley