Steve Colt named interim director of the UAA Institute for Social and Economic Research

UAA announced that Steve Colt will serve as interim director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER). Colt, an economist with ISER since 1984, will replace Ulmer, who was named the UAA interim chancellor last month.

Colt holds a Ph.D. in economics from MIT and a B.A. in economics with a concentration in environmental studies from Williams College.  With over 20 years of research experience in Alaska, Colt's areas of interest include energy economics, rural utilities, tourism and recreation, and the economics of environmental systems and non-marketed ecosystem services.

"Steve has been an incredible asset to ISER for the past 20 years," said Ulmer.  "I'm confident that through Steve's strong leadership ISER will continue its work to study the important economic and social issues facing us today."

Following the announcement, Colt said, "It is an honor to serve as ISER's interim director.  The institute has made great strides under Fran Ulmer's leadership, and I hope to help maintain the momentum she established. It should be easy, since everyone at ISER is competent and works very hard."

A division of the College of Business and Public Policy at UAA, ISER was established by the Alaska Legislature in 1961 and has a core staff of about 30 faculty members, research associates, and support personnel.  In addition to maintaining the state's largest economic database and forecasting population and employment growth, ISER enhances the well-being of Alaskans and others, through non-partisan research that helps people understand social and economic systems and supports informed public and private decision-making.

For additional information about Steve Colt's appointment, please contact Tom Case, Dean, College of Business and Public Policy at 786-4126.

To read more about ISER and some of its recent research publications, visit www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu.