When pursuing a degree, some people have the option to devote all their time and energy to the classes they’re taking. But many UAA alumni, including Bobbie Perkins, juggled a job while working toward their degree.

UAA’s wide range of online offerings was one of the reasons why UAA was a good fit when she decided to go back to school. “It was really important to me that I could do most of my classes remotely because I worked full time while I was earning my B.S.,” Perkins recalls.

As a double graduate of the occupational safety and health (OSH) program through the Community and Technical College (CTC) — first with her A.A.S. and then her B.S. — Perkins was passionate about the classes she took and felt a great sense of camaraderie with other students in the program.

Perkins eventually took a few classes on campus and loved her class with Al Grant, who is now the CTC department chair and interim associate dean. Grant remembers Perkins fondly, saying she was “one of the most committed, hardworking and dedicated students in the [OSH] program. She displayed the work ethic of a seasoned safety practitioner rather than that of a typical student.”

Today, Perkins is a safety specialist at Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks. The company has power plants, distribution lines and substations scattered across Interior Alaska. On a typical day, Perkins conducts inspections of facilities and job sites to ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, identifies potential hazards and recommends corrective actions to enhance safety standards. 

In December 2025, Perkins earned her M.S. in occupational safety and health with an environmental focus from Columbia Southern University. Her advice for students wanting to get into the electric industry is to be sure they know what they’re getting into. “My background is in the construction and oil field industry and I assumed that electric utility would be similar, but it is vastly different. Sometimes I’m still taken aback by the contrasts, so I think it’s important for people to do their research before jumping in.”

Perkins’ job keeps her on her toes, but the work is fulfilling. After all, how many people can say that they have a hand in making sure that thousands of households are getting their electricity and heat?