April 2013

   

Chat with the Chancellor is April 23 at the University Center, Erin Leaders and Duke Kahumoku are AHAINA Students of Excellence, and 2014 Engineering graduate Mike Ulroan is UAA’s first ANSEP student commencement speaker.

 

Dear Community,

I attended the Globalization of Higher Education Conference in Dallas last month.  Political, education and thought leaders from across the country and world talked about the future of higher education and the many reasons that delivery of education beyond our borders will create greater accessibility at home and abroad.  See the impressive list of presenters as well as some of their presentations. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts about how we might "operationalize" some of these ideas.

At UAA, we have faculty and staff doing exemplary work that is helping make UAA a leader in higher education.  In order to provide increased recognition of excellence at UAA, we've revamped the Chancellor's Awards. This year there are more awards, additional criteria and a $500 prize for each individual and group award made. Nominations are on a shortened timeline, due April 11, so  we can announce and celebrate the winners prior to commencement. Help us as a community to recognize the amazing leadership, talent and dedication faculty and staff bring to UAA. Nominate now.

I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment right to bear arms, however, the  Legislature's consideration of allowing guns on university campuses creates a number of problems for us.  President Gamble and our legislative team are actively opposing this legislation. Check out the State Relations website for more information on this important topic.

 

Faculty and Staff notes

Nichole (Tovar) Grunwalk is our new military and veteran student services assistant.

James Muller, UAA professor of Political Science, has been selected by the National Association of Scholars to be the president of the Alaska Association of Scholars for next year.

A record number of Kodiak College staff and faculty received the 2014 NISOD Excellence award for outstanding contributions to their college. Congratulations and thanks to:

•    Barbara Bolson, director of Kodiak College
•    Nancy Castro, receptionist for Student Services
•    Heather Corriere, assistant professor and department chair for Computer Information and Office Systems
•    Bobbie Farfalla-Ivanoff, faculty assistant
•    Jai Nan Fialla, tutor for The Learning Center and Adult Basic Education
•    Kathrynn Hollis-Buchanan, assistant professor and department chair for General Business and Accounting
•    Jennifer Pedersen, registrar

Publication notes

The Fall 2013/Winter 2014 issue of the Alaska Justice Forum includes articles on collateral consequences of criminal convictions and the relationship between unemployment and domestic violence. Read the latest issues.

Letters from Chamonix, a collection of short stories by David Stevenson, director of UAA's Department of Creative Writing and Literary Arts, is available from publisher Imaginary Mountain Surveyors. Read more in Green & Gold.

       

Seawolf Athletics notes

Seawolf Hockey had its first winning season  (18-16-4) since 1992-93 and its best since joining the WCHA. Making it to the Final Five, they were edged out by nationally ranked Ferris State Bulldogs, 5-4 in overtime. Seawolf senior captain Matt Bailey continues his career, signing a two-year deal with NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and begins with the team’s AHL affiliate in Norfolk.

UAA's Micah Chelimo is once again an NCAA champion runner! He grabbed first place in the 3,000-meter and second in the 5,000-meter at the NCAA Div. II Indoor Championships.

         

Branding and University Relations note

UAA will received two Higher Education Marketing Awards for our brand advertising work on our social media hub, The Howl, developed by Travis Michel and Spawn Ideas, and for our suite of Amazing Stories television commercials.

     

Alumni note

We have nine new chartered alumni chapters located in Alaska and around the country, seven of which have been added in last two months.  They include:  Engineering, Aviation, Houston, Seawolf Athletics, Honors College, Juneau, Health, Justice and Washington D.C.  Seattle and San Antonio are on deck for chartering next.

     

Student notes

Ryan Bergerson, a civil engineering major and German minor, was recently awarded the 2014-15 Congress-Bundestag Scholarship. Bergerson is the eighth UAA recipient of this prestigious scholarship, which provides for a year of study and internship in Germany. Congratulations Ryan and Professor Natasa Masanovic, faculty advisor for all eight UAA Congress-Bundestag Scholarship recipients.

       

Public Square notes

UAA hosts the 12th-annual Alaska Native Oratory Society: The Healing Power of Story. The Anchorage regional event is April 4 and the statewide event is April 12, featuring UAA alum Jack Dalton, Joaqlin Estus of Koahnic Broadcasting and KNBA, and Mark Trahant, the current Atwood Chair of Journalism at UAA. More here.

         

UPD Recognition Note

UAA’s University Police Department was honored for its work as first responders in a proclamation introduced by state Sen. Lesil McGuire and issued by the Alaska Legislature. UPD also presented Officer Joe Heynen, who was involved in a SWAT callout in Juneau, the Medal of Valor from the Juneau Police Department.

     

April closes out the spring semester and is filled with opportunities to appreciate the amazing achievements of students, faculty and staff.

Thank you for all you do for UAA!

Best regards,

Tom Case