For the second year in a row, UAA graduated two doctoral candidates in Clinical-Community Psychology with a rural indigenous emphasis.  Read more about these two inspiring women and the research they are pursuing.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) – UAA's accrediting body – informed us that it approved the expansion of UAA's offerings to include doctoral degrees. As a result, at this year's Commencement and Graduate Hooding ceremonies, UAA will, for the first time, jointly award, with UAF, Ph.D.s in Clinical-Community Psychology. Since 2006, UAA and UAF have jointly administered the Clinical-Community Psychology program, with UAF solely awarding the degree.

Now considered a doctoral granting institution, UAA will be able to better serve the community of Anchorage and the state of Alaska in the future. Though no additional doctoral programs are immediately being offered, UAA can now work with Statewide administration and the Board of Regents to further develop doctoral programs of greatest demand and need in Alaska. UAA's new status will allow for the state's population center to develop additional doctoral degrees in high-demand fields such as nursing and education, among others. The University of Alaska system now has two doctoral granting institutions, UAA and UAF.

Chancellor Tom Case announcement published 5.3.2012 to the University Community.

A special issue of the Master of Public Health Alumni Newsletter will be available in hard copy next week.  The newsletter is available on line through the provided link.  Dr. Rhonda Johnson, Chair of the Department of Health Sciences, wishes to thank all those who contributed to this endeavor.

There are meetings will begin again in Fall 2012 semester.  The Graduate School calendar posts the dates and times.

Congratulations are in high order for Alaskan and UAA alumnus Chris Barnett. He recently earned his Master's degree in Biology from UAA. The thesis he wrote just won national recognition from the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS).

Stories like this are a joy to write because they are such good news. Who among us can't take a moment to enjoy the hard-earned achievement by one of our own?

Chris' winning master's thesis was titled "Williams Syndrome Transcription Factor is Critical for Neural Crest Cell Formation in Xenopua Laevis." (That, by the way, is Latin for the African Clawed Frog, an excellent model for studying human development.)

He and his work were named winners of the WAGS 2012-2013 Distinguished Thesis Award for STEM. His thesis advisor was Dr. Jocelyn Krebs.

This award is a definite addition to his growing resume, Chris confirmed. On top of a certificate, he receives a $1,000 check and an invitation to attend an awards ceremony with Dr. Krebs in March in Tucson, Arizona. Very nice, indeed!

(By: Kathleen McCoy - University Advancement)

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