Mary Jo Finney, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate School and professor of education, provides
leadership in graduate education through advocacy, partnerships, grants, and collaborative curriculum
development with direct responsibility for all graduate-level interdisciplinary degrees.
Her Ph.D. in Reading and Language Arts centers on psycholinguistics, literacy, and comprehension
psycholinguistics across the lifespan undergirds her research focused on literacy
among struggling readers of all ages. With over 20 years of teaching faculty, doctoral,
master’s, and baccalaureate students, Mary Jo has taught courses in leadership, literacy, assessment,
research methodologies, nursing education, and interdisciplinary learning.
Graduate School Newsletter Fall 2024
Fall 2024 Issue
Dear UAA Community,
I am excited to launch this newsletter featuring students, staff, faculty, and events connected to your best choice for a graduate education – UAA! It doesn’t take long to discover the value of a UAA graduate degree, and the Graduate School is here to support you every step of the way. With that in mind, this issue introduces you to the Graduate School’s newly expanded team with a look at each member’s role in assisting you (along with a glimpse at their lives outside UAA!). Please feel encouraged to contact any of us with your questions about graduate school.
A pilot program called GradThrive, launched by faculty members Hannah Ekstrom and Vanessa Meade, supports students during their grad school journey. This fall, the Graduate School is partnering with GradThrive to offer professional development sessions for students focused on identifying available resources and discovering how faculty have learned to thrive. Beyond that, GradThrive also offers weekly mindfulness sessions, guest speakers, and community-building events to help you not merely survive graduate school, but thrive!
The Graduate Student Dean’s Advisory Council reconvenes later this month in its first of three meetings during the 2024-2025 year. Student council members offer compelling feedback directly to me, sharing their insights and perspectives about their UAA graduate education. If you would like to serve on the Council, please email us.
Not yet a graduate student? No problem. Be our guest at the Fall Graduate School Fair and visit with faculty and staff from each of UAA’s certificate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. Learn about the careers, resources, and people who make UAA graduate education your next smart step toward the future. You can find details for these and other upcoming events in this issue, as well as on the front page of our newly redesigned website.
Whether you are a current graduate student or are thinking about one day pursuing a graduate degree, we invite you to spend a few minutes getting to know the Graduate School staff and how each of us can support your educational goals. Once you get to know a little about us, we look forward to getting to know you. Call, email, and best of all, stop by!
Dean Mary Jo Finney
Graduate School Spotlight
In this edition, we shine a light on the dedicated staff at the UAA Graduate School. Get to know them better and discover how they can assist you in achieving your graduate education goals! You can reach out to Kristen VanDeRostyne, Administrative Assistant, for answers to just about any question you might have. Have a graduate school related story to share? Tiffany Creed, Communications Specialist, is your resource for all matters-in-the-media relating to graduate education. Need help forging a path to graduate school? Contact Sunny Mall, director of the McNair Scholars Program. Not sure if graduate school is for you? Dean Mary Jo Finney invites you to have a conversation about your hopes, uncertainties, and dreams of pursuing your graduate degree.
Mary Jo Finney, Dean of the Graduate School
Kristen VanDeRostyne, Admin Assistant
Kristen is the Administrative Assistant for the Graduate School. She's originally
from a small town called Parker, South Dakota (Population 1,033). She grew up on an
acreage where her family had horses, cows, dogs, and cats. After she graduated high
school, she then went on the join the South Dakota Air National Guard, which is a
subset of the Air Force. After her Basic Military Training, she started working on
her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management with a Minor in International Business
at Northern State University. While attending college she continued to serve in the
military part time, and even deployed overseas to the Middle East midway through her
schooling.
Tiffany Creed, Communications Specialist
Tiffany is the Communications Specialist for the Graduate School. She grew up between
Kotzebue, Fairbanks, and Sitka, Alaska. Tiffany graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in Film from Portland State University in 2013 and earned a Master of Fine Arts in
Creative Writing and Literary Arts from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2018.
She has worked in communications, social media, and web editing in the fields of education,
government, healthcare, and recreation (including dog mushing). In her current role,
she carries out web maintenance, creates print and digital materials, and develops
communication channels.
Sunny Mall, McNair Scholars Program Director
Sunny is the Program Director of the McNair Scholars Program and she has a background
as a mathematics teacher, teacher educator and administrator. She has lived in Alaska (born in Chugiak, working mainly in Anchorage and Homer) her
entire life save a summer in South Korea, one in Japan and three years living in Nepal
in the Peace Corps. She holds degrees in mathematics, teaching, and mathematics curriculum with an emphasis
in rural education. In the classroom, her goal has consistently focused on instilling
in reluctant math learners a love of mathematics and a joy of learning! Her research
interests include patterning, reasoning and teacher disposition. In her work with the McNair Scholars Program, she enhances the undergraduate experience
for students from first generation, income eligible and underrepresented backgrounds.
Upcoming Events
Resources for You in Graduate School | Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 6 - 7pm | ADM 148 and Zoom | Register
Graduate students are known for their independence, perseverance, and problem-solving skills so asking for help is not always their go-to approach. Join us for this second session in this professional development series offered by GradThrive and the Graduate School featuring a panel of UAA experts identifying a range of resources tailored to a graduate student’s journey. If you are not quite thriving, learn how UAA is there to support your move beyond merely coping to a state of thriving.
Graduate School Fair | Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 11am - 3pm | Social Sciences Building Skybridge
Are you interested in going to graduate school? Join us for the Graduate School Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, 11 am - 3 pm in the Social Sciences Building Skybridge. Visit with faculty from over 20 graduate degrees and certificate programs and learn why graduate school is right for you! Representatives from collaborative programs, various student services, and the McNair Scholars Program will be there to assist you. The first 25 attendees will receive premium UAA swag!
Graduate Student Dean's Advisory Council Dinner | Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 5:30 - 7:30pm | ADM 204 and Zoom
Please join UAA Graduate School Dean Mary Jo Finney to share your perspectives and discuss timely topics relevant to graduate education. We very much look forward to hearing your ideas and learning of your insights within this student-based advisory group that meets three times per academic year. Dinner will be catered by a local alumni-owned restaurant! Please RSVP to uaa_graduateschool@alaska.edu by Thursday, October 17th, 2024.
How Faculty Found a Way (and Continue) to Thrive | Wednesday, November 13, 2024 | 6 - 7pm | ADM 148 and Zoom | Register
Graduate students are in a unique position to observe faculty as they engage in teaching, research, service, grant writing, and publishing. With this abundance of scholarly work, how are faculty able to thrive? Join us for this third session in the series offered by GradThrive and the Graduate School featuring UAA faculty sharing ways they found to thrive throughout their exceptionally demanding and highly productive lives.
See more events on the UAA calendar, GradThrive and in Green & Gold News. Find locations on our Campus Map.
Graduate Education in Green & Gold News
Hunting for extreme microbes by Keenan James Britt |
Researching Alaska's apple orchard pollinators by Keenan James Britt |
Throwing caution to the wind by Matt Jardin |
Solving the unknown with infinite possibilities by Matt Jardin |
Get in Touch With Us
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Email
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In Person
Administration / Humanities Building 214
3800 Alumni Drive Anchorage, AK 99508
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Phone
(907) 786-1098
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Mail
UAA Graduate School
3211 Providence Drive, ADM 214
Anchorage, AK 99508