Education

1997, Indiana University Bloomington    Ph.D. Folklore

            Dissertation Topic: 100 Years of Alaska Native Literature Study

1989, University of Missouri-Columbia   M.A. English

            Focus: Literacy Studies

1981, University of Missouri-Columbia   B.A. Classical Studies

            Honors Thesis: Pan in 2nd Century Roman Burial Art

Current Position

Owner and operator of Ainsworth Consulting, LLC (2007). Author and production manager of educational books and films since 1993.

Work with Tribes, Federal Agencies and Universities   Ethnography & Linguistics

2009 – 2012    Ahtna Heritage Foundation

2003 – 2012    Department of Education/Alaska Native Education

1996 – 2001    Copper River Native Association

1996 – 2001    National Park Service, Alaska

1996 – 1999    Cheesh’na Village Council

1995 – 2011    Administration for Native Americans

1994 – 2009    Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium

1992 – present    Yukon Native Language Center, Canada

1992 – 2010    Alaska Humanities Forum (individual projects)

1986 – 2010    University of Alaska (adjunct faculty)

1986 – 2002    Mentasta Traditional Council

1984 – 1985    Lincoln University (adjunct faculty)

1984               Indiana Arts Commission

1984 – 1985    Lincoln University, Adjunct Faculty

1981 – 1984    University of Missouri-Columbia, Graduate Teacher

Books

In-production    Alaskan Native Literature: Folklore, Philology and Anthology by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, University of Alaska Press

2002    Mentasta Remembers by Cynthea L. Ainsworth and Katie & Fred John, NPS & MTC

1997   Alaskan Folklore and the American Philological Tradition by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, dissertation

1994    Knik Watershed Oral History by Amy Craven, edited by Patricia Partnow & Cynthea L. Ainsworth, Alaska Humanities Forum

Films   Ethnographic Field Videography, Direction, and Post-Production

2012    “This is Where I Live” 30-minute DVD for Ahtna Heritage Foundation

2002     “Mentasta Remembers” 30-minute oral history VHS for the Mentasta Traditional Council

1995     “Tanacross Oral History / Photo Project” documentation for the Alaska Humanities Forum

Government Books & Reports    Oral History

2001    “Ahtna Ethnographic Overview,” National Park Service

2000    “Mentasta Community History,” National Park Service

2000    “A Brief Summary Essay on Professor Frederica de Laguna’s Ethnography among the Ahtna,” National Park Service

1999    “Chistochina Community History,” National Park Service

Articles | Reviews

2006    “Frederica de Laguna: 1906 – 2004 A Remarkable Career in Alaskan Anthropology,” APUA

2006    “Potlatch” and “Alaska Folklife,” Encyclopedia of Folklife in America

2005    “When Stories are Silenced: The Suppressed Narratives of Inupiaq Vietnam Vets,” Communities of Memories (APUA special issue)

1998    “Mermaids” & “Sirens,” Encyclopedia of Folklore and Literature

1987    “The Fate of the Legendary Mermaid in Modern Cartoon Jokes,” Folklore Forum

Review: “Voyage of a Hero,” Journal of American Folklore, winter 2002:11

Review: “The Story of Crow,” Journal of American Folklore, fall 2001:492-3

Edited | Authored Series    Print Production Management

2012    Flashcards (to accompany the Ahtna Heritage Foundation pre-school materials) by Cynthea L. Ainsworth

2012    Welcome Home Baby (pre-school reader) by Cynthea L. Ainsworth for the Ahtna Heritage Foundation

2012    Let’s Go to School (pre-school reader) by Cynthea L. Ainsworth for the Ahtna Heritage Foundation

2012    Parents’ Guide to pre-school books (with audio CD) by Cynthea L. Ainsworth for the Ahtna Heritage Foundation

2000/2009    Mentasta Ahtna Language Lessons (1st and 2nd Editions) with audio CD. Speaker Katie John, Linguists James Kari & John Ritter, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium

2009    Mentasta Listening Exercises with audio CD. Speaker Katie John, Linguist John Ritter, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium

2009    Mentasta Advanced Reader with audio CD. Speaker Katie John, Linguists James Kari & John Ritter, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium

2000/2009    Chistochina Ahtna Language Lessons (1st and 2nd Editions) with audio CD. Speaker Lena Charley, Linguists James Kari & John Ritter, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sandord Tribal Consortium

2009    Chistochina Listening Exercises with audio CD. Speaker Lena Charley, Linguist John Ritter, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sandord Tribal Consortium

2009    Chistochina Advanced Reader with audio CD. Speaker Lena Charley, Linguist John Ritter, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sandord Tribal Consortium

2009    Ahtna Literacy Lessons by co-authors linguistic intern Jessica Denny, Linguist John Ritter, Translator Cynthea L. Ainsworth, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium

2009    Ahtna Athabaskan Grammar Reference by Siri Tuttle, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium

2000/2005    Lower Ahtna Language Lessons (1st and 2nd Editions). Speakers Henry & Etta Bell, Linguist James Kari, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium

2000/2005    Cantwell Language Lessons (1st and 2nd Editions). Speakers Jane Nicholas, Louise Mayo, and Jake Tansy, Linguist James Kari, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium

2000    Lessons from Gramma Katie with audio cassette. Speaker Katie John, Linguist James Kari, edited by Cynthea L. Ainsworth, produced by Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium

Teaching

1986 – 2010    University of Alaska Fairbanks, Tok: Composition Sequence 111 & 211; English 068; Speech 141; Anthropology 100; Humanities 201

1992 – 2009    University of Alaska Fairbanks & Yukon College: Summer Session English 111 & 211; Speech 141

1986 – 1999    Prince William Sound Community College: Masterpieces of Literature; Literature of the North; Humanities 211 & 212; World Civilization 101; Introduction to Sociology; Speech 111; English 111 & 211

1985 – 1986    Lincoln University: Composition Sequence 101 & 201

1981 – 1984    University of Missouri-Columbia: Graduate Teacher; Composition Sequence 101 & 201; Writing Lab Tutor