2000 UAS News Releases

May 2, 2000
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST APPOINTED UAS KETCHIKAN CAMPUS DIRECTOR

Karen Polley who has more than 20 years of experience in directing, developing and coordinating statewide adult, vocational education and employment training programs, has been appointed director of the UAS Ketchikan campus.

In making the appointment, Chancellor John Pugh said, "Karen Polley brings an unusually strong combination of vocational education and administrative experience that compliments the recent advances made on the Ketchikan campus. Karen's administrative experience also includes a year as interim director of the UAS School of Career Education so she is very familiar with our programs and policies. The fact we had exceptionally strong finalists for the position of Ketchikan campus director indicates the attraction of the position and the optimism we all have for the future of the UAS Ketchikan campus. When we started this search for a campus director I said I hoped to find an Alaskan who knows Alaska employment needs, Alaska educational needs, and Alaska issues. I believe we have found that person in Karen Polley."

Polley replaces Priscilla Schulte, the senior Ketchikan faculty member, who has been serving as campus interim director since December. Polley begins her new position full-time in August.

In her application letter, Polley said, "It is my belief that the quality and workplace relevance of the programs and services provided by the University of Alaska Southeast will be the key ingredient in the ability to retain students from diverse cultural, educational and socio-economic backgrounds. One of my strengths is the ability to bring diverse groups together to forge partnerships that will benefit students."

Since 1996, Polley, of Juneau, has been owner operator of Polley's Waterbug Services. During the 1995 school year she was interim director of the UAS School of career Education. Polley was a consultant with Ernest Polley and Associates from 1994-95. She was program coordinator for the South East Regional Resource Center from 1992-1993. She worked for the Alaska Department of Education from 1978 - 1987 serving as education administrator with Adult and Vocational Education and as an education specialist in Career and Vocational Education. Polley also spent nine years as a teacher for Juneau Douglas Community College and the Juneau School District.