Archive

Finding dangerous gaps between child-protection policy and practice is the focus of Dr. Diwakar Vadapalli's work with ISER and as chair of the Alaska Citizen Review Panel, which scrutinizes the work of agencies tasked with keeping kids safe from neglect and abuse.

Meet Karen Andrews, UAA's new director of Disability Support Services. She believes in the law, but works to win hearts.

Most Alaskans wouldn't link the word opera with Unalakleet, a community of 700 located just at the mouth of its namesake river on Norton Sound. Maybe not — until now. UAA vocal performance student and coloratura soprano Kira Eckenweiler grew up in Unalakleet.

What sets Rachel Bedsworth apart from other UAA freshman? She's an advocate for foster youth, having personally survived 46 placements in 12 years. "I want them to know they have a future..."

In Georgia's eyes, excellent health creates excellent students. As director of the Student Health & Counseling Center, she oversees the health of over 10,000 students and, as an alumna, she knows the student situation well. So it's fitting that her nominations for the top alumni award came from students she serves.

Dominique Kurth had already worked as a bookkeeper when she enrolled at UAA to seek accounting and finance degrees. Her diligence reaped rewards: stellar grades, an internship and a job waiting after graduation.

Mistee has gone from entry-level to executive, all while earning two UAA degrees. This year's Alumni Emerging Leader recipient oversees key support at Assets Inc., a local agency that advocates for Anchorage residents who experience developmental disabilities and serious mental illnesses.

Eleanor Hadden (Tlingit/Haida/Tsimshian) has been involved with the Alaska Native Heritage Center since its inception. She served on the Center's planning committee while completing her bachelor's in anthropology, worked part-time while completing her master's and has now served as curator for 11 years.

UAA runners and their coaches have long known about Skinny Raven Sports, finding shoes and other gear to help them excel. The Anchorage running store reaches out to UAA as well: it helped the university buy a state-of-the-art performance and rehabilitation treadmill and its name is on the "Raven's Nest" running track at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Students grappling with the intricate mazes of algebra and calculus are likely to be familiar with Alayna Rupert, a tutor in UAA's Math Lab who patiently helps them smooth out their mathematical thinking and untangle polynomials, linear equations and exponents.