Over the last several months, the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) has been in a period of transition. At this time, UAA can announce that Dr. Matt Calhoun will continue leading ANSEP for the foreseeable future as interim director. Dr. Calhoun has been serving as acting director since this spring. Long-time ANSEP Director and founder Dr. Herb Schroder will not be returning to that role.

UAA leadership is confident that Dr. Calhoun is the right person to be leading ANSEP at this time. He has served as assistant director of ANSEP since 2015, and is also an assistant professor of civil engineering at UAA. He holds a B.S. in civil engineering from UAA, an M.S. in civil engineering from Colorado University and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr. Calhoun was also one of the first ANSEP students to graduate after the program was founded.

This leadership transition will not impact ANSEP programs, events or academies, which will all continue as planned for the fall and spring semesters. ANSEP had a busy summer session, with a highly successful Summer Bridge Internship Program, multiple Acceleration Academies and students participating in a 3D model printing competition.

UAA remains deeply committed to ANSEP’s growth, success and mission of providing an excellent education and a life of unlimited possibilities for every Alaskan. ANSEP has been immensely successful in engaging, preparing and empowering Alaska Native students across the state for careers in STEM fields, and those students continue to impact their home communities positively. We are grateful for Dr. Calhoun’s continued leadership, and extend our thanks to Dr. Schroeder for years of service to this program.

In the coming months, UAA will launch a search for a permanent director of ANSEP, and we’ll share those details as they come together. Please join us in thanking Dr. Schroeder for everything he has contributed to ANSEP since its inception, and Dr. Calhoun for his continued leadership.