Alaska Native Success Initiative Update

by Green & Gold News  |   

Dear UAA Community,

The University of Alaska Anchorage made tremendous progress on the Alaska Native Success Initiative (ANSI) vision to be a global leader in Alaska Native student success, teaching and scholarship. To reach the goal of incorporating ANSI into everything we do at UAA, each of our campuses, colleges and schools has its own ANSI Strategic Plan. This effort requires everyone in our community — administrators, faculty, staff and students — to work together to create the systemic change needed to foster success and create a place of belonging. Below are successes we’ve achieved and some of the people who made them possible. 

ANSI Triumphs

Priority 1: Alaska Native Student Success

  • ANSEP: Acceleration Academy residential program — Matt Calhoun
  • CBPP: OEC for Alaska Native Business Management — Sharon Lind
  • SOE: Indigenizing Education — Panigkaq Agatha John-Shields and Ginger Blackmon

Priority 2: Alaska Native Faculty & Staff Success

  • COH: Jessica Ross grant/work on Nughejagh project (Dena'ina for "to become healed")  exploring the implications of trauma and potential healing impacts of Indigenous cultural revitalization
  • CAS: June Purdue teaches a course on Alaska Native Art (revitalization)
  • Native Student Services: Jason Hotch hired as the next director for NSS
  • Alaska Native, Indigenous & Rural Outreach Program: Dawn Randazzo hired as ANIROP coordinator

Priority 3: Creating a Culture of Belonging

  • CAS/CBPP: We Are One Gathering — Maria Williams and Sharon Lind
  • Facilities: Alaska Native Gathering Space developed and spearheaded by Kim Mahoney, Chris McConnell, myself and Michael Fredricks/SALT

These are just some of the recent triumphs, but there were many more experienced and surely more to come! ANSI is an important piece of your journey, your community and your impact at UAA.

ANSI focuses on Alaska Native people, but when we work on Alaska Native success, we are helping all people succeed!

Michele Aangsux̂ Yatchmeneff, Ph.D. (Unangax̂|She/Her)
Alaska Native Education & Outreach Executive Director

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