Alice Taff, Academic Programs *6 years Martha McCullough, Administrative ServicesEmployment Anniversaries
Bobbi McCoy, Chancellor's Office *12 years
Candy Murdoch, Facilities Services *31 years
Forest Wagner , Academic Programs *7 years
Jeff C Jones, Facilities Services *2 years
Jennifer Ward, Library *11 years
Kolene James, Student Services *12 years
Matthew Guschwan, Academic Programs *1 year
Ned Chapman, Facilities Services *3 years
Patricia Yearty , Administrative Services *7 years
Sarah Arntson, Student Services *2 years
Gwenna Richardson, Administrative Services (Ketchikan) *13 years
Kataryn Polanska, Administrative Services (Ketchikan) *2 years
Kate Sullivan, Academic Programs (Ketchikan) *10 years
Cheryl Stromme , Academic Programs (Sitka) *7 years
Daniel Lord, Academic Programs (Sitka) *8 years
Wes Schaefer, Academic Programs (Sitka) *5 yearsHires
Sabrina Javier, Admissions & Records
On Friday, April 19th, the Outdoor Studies Mountaineering course, ODS 222, climbed and skied Snowdrift Peak and on Saturday, April 20th, climbed and skied Rhino Peak, on the Juneau Icefield. The group of ten, led by Assistant Professor of Outdoor Studies Forest Wagner, was dropped on the upper Taku by Ward Air and skied home, descending off the Icefield to the north branch of the Mendenhall. The group walked out West Glacier Trail at 3:30 pm, Tuesday, April 23rd. Rhino Peak Summit of Rhino, l- r, Forest Wagner, Anitra Winkler, Alex Botelho, Sammy Becker, Sara Gering, not pictured, Sara Bogert Alex Botelho climbing on the N Face of Rhino Peak
The U.S. National Park Service announced a $54,451 discretionary cooperative agreement grant to the University of Alaska Southeast to produce an interactive library of natural sounds recorded within GBNPP [Sound in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve], including the biological and physical environment, as well as sounds produced by visitors and other human activities. The objectives include producing an archive of natural acoustics recorded during the summers of 2013 and 2014. Recordings will be either single species or phenomena or mingled sounds of natural communities.
Goldbelt Heritage Foundation partnered with the School of Education to co-sponsor a course this spring for students from all three Juneau School District high schools. The focus of the "Investigating Traditional Ecological Knowledge" class is to apply the strengths of the local community to promote cultural awareness and science literacy through place-based education. The spring course was created as an extension of Goldbelt Heritage Foundation's "Aan Yátx'u Sáani Deíyí: Path to Excellence" summer academies for the study of math and science through the context of local culture. The course encourages students to take into consideration the dynamic landscape of Southeast Alaska as they develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of nature, respect for life, western science methodology, Tlingit migration and language, and social roles and responsibilities. The intention is to pay tribute to the legacy of the Kwaans of the Southeast region and to allow students to discover the holistic thought processes that helped people thrive in Southeast Alaska.
The student speaker at the Juneau ceremony is Outstanding Graduate in Social Science Forest Haven. The EPSCoR, Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research undergraduate research grant recipient was extensively involved in archaeological fieldwork around southern Southeast Alaska and presented professional academic research papers. She plans to pursue a PhD. in Anthropology. Learn more about Forest and other Outstanding Grads. Honorary Doctorate of Laws recipient Charles Northrip gives the Juneau commencement address. Northrip managed Alaska’s first public radio and TV stations, served as the first Executive Director of the Alaska Public Broadcasting Commission, directed Alaska’s first satellite communications experiments, managed Juneau’s KTOO FM and TV, and directed the Juneau Economic Development Council. Currently, he is Chief of Party for the Education Development Center’s Sudan Radio Service (SRS), based in Nairobi, Kenya. University of Alaska President Patrick Gamble will give closing remarks at the Juneau ceremony. About 21 graduates will participate in a Native graduation ceremony prior to the regular ceremony in the Egan Library on the Juneau campus. The Sitka ceremony will join two University of Alaska campuses, as some Sitka graduates participate from the University of Alaska Anchorage via video conference. Roger Schmidt, the executive director of the Sitka Fine Arts Camp is commencement speaker. This year’s Ketchikan commencement speaker is Elizabeth Nelson, Artistic Director for First City Players and 2012 Distinguished Woman of the Year.
Immerse yourself in recent work from Rebecca Bartee, Edith Grover and Kate Laster. A trans-media experience to behold current efforts unfolding from fresh minds: self-portraits, ceramic towering castles, woodblock figurative pieces. Student work as you've never experienced it before, interacting with open ready-to-read sketchbooks. The time is now. Catch these artists while their feet are still on the ground!
Perseverance Theatre Company Member & National TCG Fox Fellowship Award Winner, artist Christina Apathy, and an all-local creative team bring a small town to life in, The K of D, an urban legend, a riveting tale that floats eerily between the psychological, the earthly, and the miraculous! The play runs May 10-19th, 2013 on the Phoenix Second Stage at Perseverance Theatre. Tickets are now available through Hearthside Books, Rainy Day Books, the JACC, online at perseverancetheatre.org, or by calling 463-TIXS. Evening Performances begin at 7:30p.m. and both Sunday matinees begin at 4p.m. Christina works as an Administrative Assistant for the Natural Sciences office on the Juneau campus. Set on the banks of a lake, The K of D, tells the story of skinny 12-year old Charlotte McGraw whose world changes abruptly after a tragic accident. As the effect ripples through her small town, and Charlotte's friends plot revenge, Charlotte herself discovers a powerful gift. What did happen when her twin brother gave her that sweet, strange good-bye? Why did she stop talking? And from where far-off did that mysterious blue heron suddenly appear? The K of D is a summertime ghost story that recreates the playground fun of childhood, the dark waters that sometimes surround it and the transforming power that comes with saying good-bye. Stunning in its simplicity, The K of D is a tour-de-force performance for any actor as Ms. Apathy will portray 17 characters - from big-mouthed front man Quisp, to bubble-gum cigarette smokin' Becky Ray Voss, to frustrated fisherman-dad Mr. McGraw, to (bleep, bleep) Johnny Whistler as they try to make sense of an extraordinary series of events. The play contains strong language.
The public is invited to participate in the 6th annual Juneau Marine Symposium — a day of talks on various marine research topics ranging from killer whales to salmon — from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 10 in the University of Alaska Southeast Egan Lecture Hall. A full schedule of speakers will be available on Facebook and on the UAS events website after Friday, May 3. This event is organized by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in partnership with the University of Alaska Southeast and the NOAA’s Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute. The event is free and open to the public.
2013 Faculty Excellence awards go to Assistant Professor of Marine Biology Carolyn Bergstrom, Associate Professor of GIS and Landscape Ecology Sanjay Pyare, Assistant Professor of Accounting Vickie Williams and adjunct dance instructor Patricia Belec. A Celebration of Faculty Excellence in Juneau will take place at the Auke Lake Campus on Monday May 6 from 3-4:30pm in the Glacier View Room. “This is an annual opportunity to recognize those who’ve truly distinguished themselves in these areas in the past year,”said Provost Rick Caulfield. Those recognized are nominated by members of the UAS community from across all three campuses. Teaching – Carolyn Bergstrom Service – Sanjay Pyare Faculty Advising – Vickie Williams Adjunct Instruction – Patricia Belec 
Dr. Carolyn Bergstrom, Ph.D., joined the Arts & Sciences faculty at UAS in the fall of 2009. Since then, students and colleagues alike have commended her teaching style, specifically her use of real-world examples from her research. This dedication to her students’ needs is especially noted by her ability to seamlessly weave in humor and levity. She doesn’t just teach the material. She also backs up the information given with her strong background in her subject.
Dr. Sanjay Pyare, Ph.D., efforts in service are wide-ranging, encompassing the university, professional, and public arenas. In the past year, Dr. Pyare’s contributions have had a substantial, measurable, and positive impact on students and faculty at UAS. Dr. Pyare has been an advocate and leader for UAS in the Statewide Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, EPSCoR program. This advocacy helped garner funding for a new faculty position in forest ecology at UAS.
Ms. Vickie Williams , MBA/CPA, has distinguished herself in faculty advising. Students and colleagues commend her for her dedication to student needs, her adaptability to new challenges and her openness with students. In addition, Ms. Williams is a tireless advocate for UAS. Vickie advises literally everywhere she goes — it’s not unusual for her to take time and talk to a potential or current student at local events, the pool or the grocery store.
Ms. Belec has been teaching dance classes at UAS since 2009, and is devoted to ensuring students are provided quality dance instruction in a fun and supportive learning environment. “Pat gives attention to each and every student. . . She finds something encouraging to say to each and every person,” wrote one of her students.” By letting her vibrant personality shine [she] makes learning fun.” Many of her students benefits from her instruction well beyond the classroom and into the community through the self-confidence, physical activity and love of dancing shared with others.
Photo by Chancellor Pugh Runners in the 5K fundraiser race for the Harborview Triathlon Club threw handfuls of powdered dye into the air just past the finish line in the Mourant courtyard. Proceeds went to send Harborview triathletes to an upcoming meet in Sitka.
This is one of several Northwest Coast art classes offered during the summer, but it is the first time silver engraving has been offered at the campus in several years. There will be beginning, intermediate and advanced levels offered at the same time. “Students will get an introduction to hand engraving, Tlingit design, tool making and metalsmithing,” said Galanin, a Tlingit/Aleut multidisciplinary artist who also carves wood and paper, plays music and shoots video. In December, Galanin received a $50,000 United States Artists Rasmuson Fellowship award in the crafts and traditional arts category. The class serves as an introduction to silver and copper engraving techniques as practiced by Northwest Coast Indians in Alaska. It includes application of design, tools, making of engravers, methods of carving, and designing and carving a copper project. A history of carving in Northwest Coast Native art also will be included. Among the other Northwest Coast art classes offered this summer is a half-credit class June 14-15 on the harvesting and preparation of basketry materials taught by Delores Churchill (this class includes an all-day trip to Kruzof Island to gather material). There also is a two-credit basketry class (for beginning, intermediate and advanced students) on June 17-28 taught by Delores Churchill, and a one-credit raven’s tail weaving class (for beginning, intermediate and advanced students) taught by Cheryl Samuel. Photo: Artist Nicholas Galanin at work in his Sitka studio
The University of Alaska Southeast Sitka Campus has rescheduled a silver engraving Northwest Coast art class to May 28-June 1 at the UAS Sitka Campus. The one-credit class will be taught by award-winning metalsmith Nicholas Galanin of Sitka.
More than two hundred fourth graders participated the second annual BioBlitz on the Dan Bishop trail between the UAS REC center and Auke Bay Elementary School April 30. Naturalists from the US Forest Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration led groups of students through six different habitats. The event was organized by School of Education faculty member Chip McMillan. For photos of the event, visit the Juneau Empire.