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As the nation’s only Arctic state, Alaska faces unique challenges and environmental conditions unlike anywhere else in the United States. Faculty and students at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) continue to drive research that tackles regional challenges in practical ways, such as studying how temperature affects metal corrosion in the Arctic or the effects of tire rubber contamination on salmon mortality.

As education continues to transform to meet the needs of students and the workforce, the University of Alaska Anchorage is always looking for opportunities to grow and adapt to better serve communities and the state.

UAA now offers a Bachelor of Arts in communication, among the most in-demand degree programs. The new offering allows students to take advantage of high job demand while also honing the top skills that employers seek.

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner alumna Catherine Haese will serve as graduate student speaker at the Spring 2023 Commencement ceremony before starting her new position at Eagle River Behavioral Health where she will use her personal experience to foster addiction recovery solutions and treat mental health issues.

When employers and universities collaborate, the partnership can create opportunities for students and communities to thrive. Computer systems engineering alumnus Hunter Johnson is a beneficiary of such opportunities, beginning as an intern at Baird where he now works as senior client specialist.

Nearly 200 alumni and supporters packed Lucy Cuddy Hall on the Anchorage campus to honor the most recent Alumni of Distinction while reconnecting with their hometown university and raising more than $12,000 to benefit UAA programs and scholarships.

On Feb. 24, the Alaska VA Clinic was officially renamed the Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healthcare System, a collaborative effort that included both Alaska senators and U.S Representative, as well as the invaluable contributions of Assistant Professor Vanessa Meade in UAA’s School of Social Work.

UAA’s Tom Case Leadership Fellows program pairs participants with local business leaders for a year-long mentorship. This year, the program added an additional component: mentorship from Alaska Public Media’s nonprofit board of directors.

UAA Associate Professor of Environmental Health Micah Hahn is leading a research project around climate change, health, wildfire smoke and environmental justice in Alaska that recently received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Justice alumnus and 2022 Alumni of Achievement Kenneth McCoy is the division chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Providence. In his role, McCoy promotes culturally-competent patient-centered care across the organization in Alaska and Puget Sound. Before joining Providence in 2022, he retired from a 27-year career with the Anchorage Police Department, starting at the patrol level before culminating as chief of police.