ISER to change directors in 2013

Heather Hudson, Ph.D., will step down as director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) on Dec. 31, 2012, to focus on her research and teaching. She has served in this leadership position since 2010, coming to UAA after a nationwide search.

Heather will be on a leave of absence for the spring 2013 semester, writing a book on the history of telecommunications in Alaska and working on other research projects. She will return for AY 2013-2014 and continue in her position as a faculty member at ISER.

During her tenure, ISER celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. Heather oversaw the creation of the George Rogers Emerging Scholars Fund and led many other outreach activities including expanded research on Arctic issues, as well as guiding the recruitment of several new faculty and other research staff.  During this period, ISER undertook several new research initiatives in energy, ecosystem services, telecommunications and other fields and established a new center within ISER--the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research. Her experience in communications policy for rural and developing regions has been instrumental in statewide discussions of Internet and broadband services across Alaska.

Gunnar Knapp, a professor of economics at ISER, has been appointed interim director, effective Jan. 1, 2013. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University and has been with ISER since 1981. He is an internationally recognized scholar for his work on fisheries markets and management of fisheries resources in Alaska and worldwide.

Please join us in thanking Heather Hudson for her service to UAA, and in welcoming Gunnar Knapp to his new position as interim director of ISER.