UAS Alumni & Friends
Board of Directors
MISSION
STATEMENT
UASAA is an open membership organization whose purpose is to serve as a
vital connection between the alumni and the university. The UASAA communicates
and advocates the goals and programs of UAS, and fosters a continuous sense of
community by establishing relationships and networking among alumni.
Jerry Burnett, President
Jerry Burnett has served on the UASAA Board since 2006, and as Treasurer in
2007. He has earned two degrees from
UAS: an MBA (Master’s of Business Administration) in 1987, and an MPA (Master’s
of Public Administration) in 1989. He
currently works as the Deputy Commissioner of the Treasury of the State of Alaska.
Mary Lou Madden, Vice President
Mary Lou Madden is a 35+ year resident of Juneau. She obtained her
M.Ed. from UAS in 1980 and continued her graduate education at Johns Hopkins
University and The
American University. She has been the director of the Ketchikan
campus and Dean of Faculty at the Juneau
campus of UAS. She is interested in tapping the liberal arts potential of
the Juneau
campus and in the workforce development potential of the extended campuses.
Cherie Nienhuis, Treasurer
In Cherie’s own words: “My name is Cherie Nienhuis and I was a Juneau resident for 25 years before recently relocating to
Anchorage.
I graduated from the University
of Alaska Southeast in
1999 with a Masters of Business Administration degree. I received a
Bachelors of Science degree from Michigan
State University
in 1980. The University
of Alaska Southeast
opened doors for me. It provided me with a quality education, and it put
me in touch with staff who took an interest in my career development and helped
me gain employment and transition into the workplace. The personal nature
of UAS lends itself well to this type of interaction and I believe it is its
strength. As an Alumni Board member, I would continue to promote UAS as
the institution where learning takes place on a personal level and where an
education is an experience, not a requirement.”
Jeremy Hansen
Jeremy was born in Mt. Vernon,
Washington. He is largely
recognized for his efforts in the private sector with his company Hansen Gress,
which provides technology solutions in Alaska.
Jeremy founded Hansen Gress when he was thirteen, and they are now celebrating
10 years of success. He is interested in growing membership and bridging the
gap to younger generations and the business community.
Jim King, Sr.
In Jim’s own words: “I’ve been associated with U of A since I was one of 300
some full time students at Fairbanks
in 1949. Later as a biologist and pilot with US Fish & Wildlife Service I
was associated some with the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. As a Juneau resident for more
than 40 years I have taken classes at UAS and worked on several projects
related to Eagles. I received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree at UAS in
1989. I would like to work with the Alumni Associations to get some of Alaska’s oil wealth put
into the University Foundation for the purpose of reducing tuition, raising
faculty compensation and building the infrastructure of all campuses.”
Bob Mitchell, President
Bob Mitchell knows the value of the classes offered at the University of Alaska
Southeast in Juneau, because
they helped him get his Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Alaska
in Fairbanks.
"I was able to complete my Master's degree at UAF by taking classes at
UAS," Mitchell said. "One of those courses was in finance, and that
course has come in handy when evaluating investment opportunities." read more →
Nicolle Lewis
Nicolle Lewis was born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Her undergraduate degree was earned in Hawaii
at Chaminade University and she completed her MBA
through UAS in May 2007. She has spent her career in accounting and
office management both in Seattle and Ketchikan, working at a freight forwarding company, CPA firm,
seafood processor and currently in the finance department at the City of Ketchikan. Having
completed her first degree in a traditional manner and her second later in life
through a distance program she is very interested in serving the alumni
association, encouraging networking among alumni and continuing her involvement
in the educational community.
Venietia Santana
Venietia Santana grew up in Watertown,
Connecticut, and received her
bachelor of liberal arts degree in communications from UAS. She currently works
as an employment security specialist with the State of Alaska Division of
Public Assistance and in customer service at T.K. Maguires/Prospector Hotel. read more →
Rick Wolk
Rick Wolk accept an appointment to the UASAA Board of Directors in December
2008. He is currently the faculty member
in charge of the MBA program at UAS. He
is interested in starting an MBA chapter of the alumni association.