Edie Grunwald was appointed to a five-year term on the Board of Parole and as Chair by Governor Mike Dunleavy March 1, 2019. Ms. Grunwald served 31 years with the U.S. Air Force and Alaska Air National Guard, honorably retiring in September 2015 with the rank of colonel. She has earned two master's degrees: Masters of Strategy -National Security; - Master of Science in Business Organizational Management; and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Technology and has been a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources since July 2015.
She entered the criminal justice arena in December 2016 and has been involved with Alaska's judicial laws and continuing education in Corrections courses. She brings a new perspective to the parole board along with leadership, education and life experiences. As a member of the Association of Parole Authorities International, she was selected to chair the Crime Victims Committee June 2019. In addition to numerous military awards, Ms. Grunwald was recognized with the Victims for Justice Phoenix Award, 2018, for "Rising Above and Making a Difference" and as the Frontiersman Person of the Year, 2017.
She has lived in Alaska since arriving at Eielson AFB in June 1985.
Sarah Possenti was appointed to a five-year term on the Board of Parole by Governor Parnell in March 2011.
She has served in numerous capacities for the Alaska Department of Corrections, most recently as an Institutional Probation Officer at Fairbanks Correctional Center, and prior to that, as a Field Probation Officer. She formerly served as program coordinator for the Fairbanks North Star Youth Court.
Mrs. Possenti holds Bachelor's degrees in Criminal Justice and Social Work from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She is appointed to a seat on the board reserved for a resident of the 4th Judicial District.
She is a resident of Fairbanks.
Leitoni Matakaiongo Tupou earned a Bachelor Degree from Brigham Young University - Hawaii Campus and moved to Juneau, Alaska in 1982. He has actively served in many capacities in the community. Governor Michael J. Dunleavy appointed him to a five year term with the Alaska Board of Parole on September 19, 2019 which was effective March 3, 2020. Mr. Tupou has served in many capacities within the Alaska Department of Corrections such as Correctional Officer, Probation/Parole Officer, Interstate Compact Administrator, Director of the Division of Institutions and Deputy Commissioner.
Mr. Meyer retired from the State of Alaska, Department of Corrections in 2014, after a 21 year career. His tenure with the Department included 11 years with the Division of Institutions as a Correctional Officer, Prisoner Transportation Officer, Correctional Sergeant, and one year as a Training Officer II with the Department Academy. In 2004, he began the remaining ten years of his career as a field Probation/Parole Officer in the Kenai Field Probation Office. From 1994 to 2008, he was an operator for the Alaska State Troopers Special Emergency Response Team (SERT). He is an active member of his community and has served on numerous boards and advisory committees. He resides in Kenai.
Jason Wilson was recently appointed by Governor Walker to the Parole Board to complete the remaining term following a vacancy on the board. Jason is only the second Alaska Native to be appointed to the Parole Board. Jason first joined Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Central Council) in 2002 as a youth advocate where he provided case management to youth referred to the Tribe by the State of Alaska’s Division of Juvenile Justice and Office of Children’s Services. He later served as family caseworker and supervisor for the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) program, as well as criminal justice specialist for the Tribe’s Children’s Justice Act Initiative. In 2009, he was promoted to Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program coordinator and then manager of the Public Safety department in 2011. As manager of the Public Safety department, he oversees the Second Chance Prisoner Re-entry and VPSO programs.
Prior to working for the Tribe, Jason also worked eight years as a youth counselor for Johnson Youth Services where he developed individual treatment plans and facilitated youth groups. In the Juneau community, Jason has served as the head swim coach for Thunder Mountain High School (TMHS) for the past six years as well as the assistant coach for the TMHS softball team.
Jason was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska.