Archive

Not only is Katie Irwin making Seawolf history as UAA's first Deaf student commencement speaker, but she’s also leaving behind a legacy that will benefit the entire UA system for years to come.

Long before Dr. Lori Carrell, M.Ed '89, became chancellor at University of Minnesota Rochester, she was a village teacher in Akiachak. She earned her UAA degree over summer breaks, and credits that simultaneous teaching and learning for shaping her career. "If I’m worth anything, it’s because of my time in Alaska."

Competitive gaming, or esports, is a soon-to-be billion dollar global industry, netting million-dollar payouts for professionals and college scholarships for up-and-comers. Building on that momentum is the UAA Esports Club, who provides valuable knowledge and resources to Alaska's own burgeoning high school esports programs.

UAA alumna Kyra McKay is the university’s new Employee Wellness coordinator and is on a mission to get UAA staff and faculty up and out of their offices to get a little stretch break and meet new people on campus.

A recent study published by Richelle Johnson, lead analyst for UAA’s Center for Economic Development and economics alumna, just confirmed what owners of a certain beloved bumper sticker already know: Alaska girls rule.

For almost 30 years, Gil Bane has been an inspirational figure at Kodiak College. A marine biologist by training, he redesigned his own courses to meet the needs of Kodiak’s aspiring health professionals. At the same time, he sparked students' interest in marine life and mentored up-and-coming ocean researchers — including UAA’s resident shark expert, Professor Cheryl Wilga.

Michael Mueller, a professor of education in UAA’s School of Education, is on a mission to help youths in Alaska become advocates of their environment through his Youth Birding Alaska project.

This past July in Utqiagvik, former associate professor of political science Dalee Sambo Dorough was unanimously voted to serve as international chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, a position that represents 165,000 Inuit across Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia.

British-Armenian Nigel Sharp is UAA’s first global entrepreneur in residence, serving as a mentor and consultant to students, staff and faculty while looking for opportunities to help develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Alaska as a whole.

UAA alumna Carla Baxley, B.S. Civil Engineering '01, said she wanted to be in an industry that helped people — and through her 17-year career as an airport engineer, she has helped connect Alaskans to their family, friends and services all over the state.