Dear UAA Community,

A Seawolf sweep of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships by men's and women's cross country running teams for the third straight year, Anthropology Professor Steve Langdon receiving the Bullock Prize — the largest single award made annually by the UA Foundation's Board of Trustees, and UAA being notified by the 49th State Angel Fund of a $1.5M award to the newly established Seawolf Venture Fund, pending due diligence, are just some of the outstanding accomplishments at UAA this fall. It's been nonstop in many ways, including the number of candidates on campus for provost and dean of the  College of Health, College of Education and School of Engineering.  Take time this month to attend public lectures and forums with the candidates and provide feedback to the search committees for provost and deans.

Faculty and staff notes:                     Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) Kachemak Bay Campus Director Carol Swartz has been named one of the 2012 Recipients of the Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities. She was honored for her Distinguished Service to the Humanities on Oct. 18 during a dinner at the Hotel Captain Cook.

Beth Rose, associate vice chancellor for Development is named the 2012 Outstanding Professional in Philanthropy by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Alaska Chapter.

Governor Sean Parnell appointed April Gale Laktonen Counceller, assistant professor of Alutiiq language and culture at Kodiak College and language manager at the Alutiiq Museum, as a new member of the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council.

Professor Ryan Fortson, Justice faculty, received the Ben Walters Distinguished Service Award from the Anchorage Bar Association  for contributions to the Anchorage legal community.

ISER Director Dr. Heather Hudson has been invited to be an inaugural fellow of Columbia University's Institute for Tele-Information.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District awarded Sara Reinert, Kachemak Bay Campus associate professor of mathematics, a "Golden Apple" for promoting math education throughout the district.

Public Square:

No Big Heads
The No Big Heads art exhibit and the Haunted Halloween Fun Night are two longstanding public square traditions at UAA. • The 27th Annual No Big Heads Self-Portrait Juried Art Exhibit drew entries from across the country.
• The 24th Annual Haunted House Fun Night, sponsored by UAA Club Council, drew over 3,300 ghosts, goblins and superheros to the Student Union.

Science Outreach for K-8
The snail race is on… Kodiak College marine biology faculty Switgard Duesterloh is lending her scientific expertise to teachers in elementary and middle school science classes in the Kodiak Island Borough school District to create interest and awareness in science careers in a borough-funded partnership.

Matanuska-Susitna College dedicated road sign

Mat-Su College dedicated their recently installed electronic road sign that shares college events with the community. Student government made this project possible.

Sustainability note:
The Sustainability Action Boardis pleased to report that from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, UAA recycled:                             
     • 1,246 pounds of aluminum
      • 334 pounds of metals
      • 3,684 pounds of plastic
      • 220,431 pounds of paper
      • 19,557 pounds of cardboard

The number of people using Connect by Hertz, UAA's car sharing service, is continuing to grow each month, surpassing 100 in September 2011 and reaching a high of 175 rides in October 2012. (Clip art/photo from Sustainability website).

What can you do to increase our sustainability?
     • Turn off your computer at night.
     • Duplex copy whenever possible.
     • Have your department or office Green Certified.

To find out more click here.

University Relations notes:

The "I Am UAA" campaign dominated in the nonprofit Marketing Campaign category of the inaugural American Marketing Association,  Alaska Chapter, Prism Awards event in Anchorage.

For the second year in a row, Mat-Su College is the recipient of the Annual International Davey Silver Award for Mat-Su College's freshly updated 30-second commercial, "A Day in the Life. "Mat-Su College's winning commercial can be found on their YouTube channel. Congratulations!

Development note:
UAA's Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) has received a $288,000 check from the estate of Roxolana Pomeroy, for the Harold E. Pomeroy Public Policy Research Endowment.

Construction note:

UAA's new thermal system design lab is the result of the collaboration of professor, students and  industry, and zero university funding.  Read the full story.

Kenai River Campus Career and Tech Center ironworkers ceremony marked a historic milestone.
The last major steel beamfor Kenai Peninsula College's Career Tech Center was lifted in a "Topping Out" ceremony in October.

Entrepreneurship note:
Vice Provost for Research Dr. Helena S. Wisniewski received a Letter of Intent from the 49th State Angel Fund for $1.5M in funding for Seawolf Venture Fund, LP. They are currently in the due diligence phase.  The Venture Fund is an extension of UAA's initiative promoting innovation, research and entrepreneurship.