August 2014

Palmer Mayor DeLena Johnson is charter member of new Mat-Su Alumni Chapter. UAA Weed Pull success.

Dear Community,

This summer has been busier than usual as work is done to set up a transparent and effective post process for our prioritization efforts. The prioritization reports will be released to the entire UAA community on Aug. 11, when faculty return to campus. Prior to that, deans, directors and heads of major administrative units will be notified of their functions and academic programs in the transform and further review categories. Based on the prioritization reports and extensive further review of programs and functions at risk, senior university leadership and select members of the original task forces will develop a reduction and reallocation plan for FY16 and beyond. The plan will be finalized by Dec. 30.  I am confident that the work that everyone has put into this process and the work that will be done in the coming months will pay off in making UAA stronger.

While we are spending much time on strategic alignment with prioritization efforts and "Shaping Alaska's Future," it is important to appreciate all that UAA is doing every day to serve our prospective, new and returning students. Throughout the summer, high school students have been on campus taking classes helping them prepare for careers in health, sciences and engineering. HOWL days are in full swing with fun and informative orientations for new students. Saturday, Aug. 23, Freshman Convocation and Campus Kick-Off continue to welcome students to the 2014-2015 academic year.

I invite you to join me and your colleagues on Thursday, Aug. 21 for Faculty and Staff Convocation. This special event is an important time to recognize the excellence among our faculty and staff and to thank one and all for your service. This year there will be more time and space to socialize with breakfast served in Lucy Cuddy Hall beginning at 8:30 a.m. Walk over to the Wendy at 9:45 and watch highlights of the past year, a special student presentation and more. Faculty and Staff Convocation is a great way to reconnect, look at where we’ve been, where we’re headed and commit to making 2014-2015 the best year ever for UAA.

 

Faculty and Staff Notes

Dr. John R. Nofsinger

Dr. John R. Nofsinger is the William H. Seward Endowed Chair in Finance.

Dr. Betty Buchan Monsour, Associate Professor of Public Health, is the executive chair of the 20th International Epidemiological Association’s World Congress of Epidemiology 2014. This triennial congress is one of the most prestigious health care events worldwide and is being held this month in Anchorage, Aug. 17-21.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, and Dr. Gabriel Garcia, UAA Department of Health Sciences, have had their collaborative research, "Is Race a Factor in Disparate Health Problems Associated with Violent Victimization in Alaska?," accepted for presentation at a poster session for the 20th IEA World Congress.

Shauna Grant, Associate Director of Student Financial Assistance, was selected to serve on the Gilman International Scholarship Selective Committee. Last year, six out of seven UAA applicants were selected for this scholarship for study in the UK, Russia and Czech Republic.

     

‘Come Home to Alaska’ note

Nonresident students, with parents or grandparents currently living in Alaska, will have the non-resident surcharge waived for the next two academic years. Read more here.

Athletic note

UAA placed nine student-athletes on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s Faculty Athletic Representative Scholar-Athlete Team, including a league-high five student-athletes with 4.0 GPAs. To be recognized, a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.85 GPA and have completed at least two years of athletic competition.

       

Student notes:

 
    Hugh Denny

Matthieu Ostrander, Seawolf Debate Program member and junior in economics, won the 2014 Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge in Budapest, Hungary.

Hugh Denny’s capstone project for his UAA Engineering, Science and Project Management (ESPM) master’s degree won the inaugural Livingston Slone Applied Research in Health Project Management Award. Denny devised an algorithm that uses objective factors to track the long-term cost of owning building system equipment.

Partnership note

The Anchorage Park Foundation partnered with UAA Landscaping for UAA's 2014 Invasive Weed Pull. Twenty-seven volunteers filled five dump truck loads and 25 garbage bags of weeds from our Anchorage campus. Thank you!

       

Publication note

The Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) released its newest fact sheet: "Burglary in Alaska: 1985-2012." The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker of AJSAC.

       

Alumni notes:

Charter member and Palmer Mayor DeLena Johnson helps usher in new Mat-Su Area alumni chapter.

Mat-Su College celebrated the establishment of its new alumni chapter, with charter members David Johnson, Keith Asche and DeLena Johnson.

The 2014 Green & Gold Gala is scheduled for Sept. 27. Three Alumni of Distinction will be honored at the event: Ted Trueblood, President Tryck Nyman Hayes Inc. (Ret.), M.S. Engineering '80; Christy Hickel, Program Director SPYDER (Sports Programs for Youth Development, Education & Recreation), B.Ed. Physical Education '86, M.S. Interdisciplinary Studies '80; and Virginia Groeschel, Aviation Design Engineer, B.S. Civil Engineering ’06.

This summer Kenai Peninsula College celebrated its 50th anniversary and this year UAA celebrated its 60th anniversary. It is truly impressive all that has been accomplished in this time. Amazing stories continue to be written every day at UAA!

Best regards,

Tom Case