Are you looking for a meaningful and rewarding career that allows you to make a real
difference in your community? Behavioral health is the connection between behavior
and well-being, encompassing a wide range of emotional, psychological and social issues
that affect a person's mental and physical health and well-being.
By pursuing a career in behavioral health, you have the opportunity to positively
impact the lives of those in your community. Whether you choose to become a therapist,
counselor, social worker, psychiatrist or psychologist, you will be providing critical
support and guidance to individuals and families who need it most. By helping to address
the root causes of mental health disorders and substance abuse, you can also help
to build stronger, healthier communities. You can help to break the cycle of addiction
and trauma, and promote a brighter future for all, as we build a better Alaska.
Discover the demand for behavioral health professionals in Alaska through this series
of videos sponsored by Premera, featuring the inspiring stories of our UAA alumni
who are actively contributing to our communities.
UAA would like to thank Premera Blue Cross for their generous support to inspire students to consider careers in
behavioral health.
Transform lives & communities
"A very simple explanation of human services is people that want to help people. What
I learned in the human services program corresponds directly to what I do now...
I don't think I ever had a kid who didn't have some kind of trauma in their lives.
So to work in probation and have an opportunity to help a kid or to help their family
process some of that, it really does help the rest of the community."
Vicha Puwasurintra Probation Officer UAA Human Services Alumni
"What I do is find the essence of a person. My message and my mantra is, 'never take
away a person's hope because it might be all they have.'
UAA prepared me for working in the behavior health field by offering a variety of
classes that basically teach you the fundamentals."
Holly Scott Care Coordinator UAA Human Services Alumni
Help meet alaska's behavioral health workforce needs
The prevalence of domestic violence, economic instability, unemployment, and substance
abuse in households across Alaska underscores the critical need for behavioral health
services.
Over 100,000 adults in Alaska have a mental health condition, and 28,000 adults have
a serious mental illness.Over 40% of incarcerated Alaskans experience a serious mental illness.
Nearly 25% of Alaskans face serious challenges from substance use and there are not
enough treatment options to respond to this need.
The demand for behavioral health care professionals is on the rise in Alaska, with
an anticipated workforce growth of over 10% over the next 10 years.
Here are just a few of the ever-growing behavioral health jobs available in Alaska
and across the country:
Dr. Corrie Whitmore, an associate professor in the Division of Population Health Sciences, and her team at UAA’s Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services are celebrating the recent publication of a new article. The paper, which was published in the Dec. 2025 issue of Nursing for Women’s Health, offers a framework and actionable strategies for nurses to improve communication and patient experience in discussions around substance use and contraception.
School of Social Work Assistant Professor Amana Mbise and ISER Research Assistant Professor Nathan West are exploring the relationships that Black barbershops play in men's health. Their community-based research prioritizes the lived experiences of the men they talk to, and is revealing how barbershops function not just as grooming spaces, but as social and cultural hubs.
As a neonatal nurse practitioner at Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital and adjunct faculty member for the UAA School of Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice alumna and graduate student hooding ceremony speaker for the fall Class of 2025 Stacy Brunquist weaves education into everything she does — training new caregivers, guiding parents learning to care for their newborns, and sharing knowledge with professionals from Utqiaġvik to Sitka.
Ambra McMillian is an Assistant Professor of Dental Hygiene in the School of Therapeutic Sciences, where she combines her passion for the field with the fulfillment of guiding students as they learn and grow.
Dacia Davis, a clinical assistant professor in the School of Social Work and a graduate of UAA's MSW program, finds inspiration in teaching and community.
Find a program
We offer educational programs that range from three months to six years. An admissions counselor is ready to talk to you about the programs that fit your needs as well as financing
and scholarship opportunities.
