Archive

For Piper Jones, middle school teacher, educational leadership alumna and graduate student commencement speaker for the spring Class of 2025, teaching is all about the “light bulb moment” — the instant when a student’s confusion finally turns into understanding.

Despite belonging to different political parties and legislative caucuses, Rep. Genevieve Mina and Rep. David Nelson have much in common: the former UAA classmates are both political science grads, the only twenty-somethings currently serving in the Alaska Legislature, represent neighboring Anchorage districts and share a passion for community.

Accounting alumna and 2024-25 Alumni of Achievement Maria Bourne is the president and CEO of Denali Universal Services. Under her leadership, the company expanded to over 1,100 employees across six states, with 30% of its business now operating outside of Alaska.

Education leadership alumna and 2024-25 Alumni Humanitarian E. Ingrid Goodyear is the missing or murdered Indigenous persons regional coordinator for the Great Plains and Alaska at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Alaska. One of only five regional MMIP coordinators in the country, she works to address the disproportionately high rates of violence and disappearances that Indigenous people face in the United States.

General management alumna and 2024-25 Alumni Emerging Leader Iuliia Chepurko is the director of program and project standards at GCI. In this capacity, she standardizes project management methodologies across departments, ensuring that projects are executed with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

The Anchorage ATHENA Society has announced its Class of 2025 inductees, which include UAA alumni Kate Consenstein, B.A. ’11; Melanie Osborne, B.A. ’96; and Jennifer Schrage, B.A. ’93.

Maria Bourne, B.B.A. ’06; E. Ingrid Goodyear, M.Ed. ’11; and Iuliia Chepurko, M.B.A. ’15 will be honored at UAA’s Alumni of Distinction Celebration on March 18 at the Fine Arts Building Recital Hall

Whether he’s responding to calls or going on patrol, justice alumnus, former Seawolf track star and University Police Department Officer Collin Hurd wants students to know that he’s around, he understands them, and most importantly, they’re safe.

After breaking a 30-year record at his season opener, track and field runner and computer science sophomore Joshua Caleb was named Div. II Athlete of the Week by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, UAA honored individuals with emeritus status, Meritorious Service Awards and Honorary Degrees during a special ceremony in advance of fall commencement.