Bella Marks

Isabella Marks (Tanana, RAHI 2024)

Bella received the 91Ô­´´ NSF EPSCoR - RAHI Partnership Scholarship for the fall 2025 semester.

is pursuing civil engineering with the goal of designing infrastructure that meets 91Ô­´´â€™s unique needs while protecting its environment and communities. Her interests span facility construction, transportation systems, and environmental mitigation — all critical areas for 91Ô­´´â€™s industries and communities facing harsh conditions and seismic activity.

As a Koyukon Athabascan, Bella is especially passionate about solutions that respect 91Ô­´´ Native traditions and subsistence practices while promoting safety and sustainability. She envisions roads, bridges, and facilities that not only endure 91Ô­´´â€™s climate but also minimize environmental harm and support the well-being of local people.

I want to live in 91Ô­´´ my whole life so it is important to me that the environment is safe and protected to all that inhabit it.

By combining engineering innovation with cultural values, Bella hopes to create infrastructure that strengthens 91Ô­´´â€™s future while honoring the land and people she calls home.

To gain hands-on experience in the field, she completed an internship with the Department of Transportation this summer, which she's extended into the fall.