December 2022, Issue 5

Dear Alumni and Friends,

This time of year is busy, but it seems to be especially busy on a university campus. I am amazed at how much students learn in any given semester and what an incredible job our faculty do in teaching, mentoring and inspiring them. While classroom learning is at the core of what we do, combining this with out-of-class experiences allows students to apply their knowledge in new ways. Studies show that students who participate in these activities are more likely to be engaged in their education and consequently are more likely to graduate and to go on to have successful careers and fulfilling lives. That is why one of our core goals is to provide enrichment opportunities for all our students.

This issue of the newsletter is focused on the variety of opportunities our students have outside the classroom. We start with two unique courses that offer field trips as a part of the class; one with Journalism Atwood Chair, John Sharify, in the Alaska Public Media studio and one with Associate Dean, Professor Simon Kattenhorn, in the mountains of Las Vegas. We also interview Paddy Sullivan, Director of the Environment and Natural Resource Institute (ENRI), about his work studying climate change. Students working with him can expect to do research in the lab as well as remote areas of the Brooks Range. Other students, like Tom Meyers who lived in Austria for a year, choose to study abroad for in-depth learning of a different culture. Finally, learn about psychology alumna, Xiomara Owens, and how her work-based practicum impacted her education, as well as what it’s like to oversee practicum students in her current profession.

We offer a wide variety of opportunities for our students; thanks go to the mentors, faculty, alumni, and community members, who make these happen. If you’d like to learn more or be involved in providing student experiences outside of the classroom, please contact us. There are many ways to support these efforts.

As the year ends, I find it natural to reflect, plan, celebrate and express gratitude.

Reflect. I came north to Alaska in summer 2021 to take the position as CAS Dean. One of my main goals continues to be communicating our value to our community, our future students, and our partners. This newsletter is one effort to share information about our world-class faculty, the varied opportunities for students, and the value we provide to our economy. I encourage you to follow us on social media to see new stories every day.

Plan. As we move into the new year, our focus is on the student experience. Since many of our students had to step away from their education, due to the pandemic, we are creating ways to support students' return to the classroom and opportunities for success.

Celebrate. We have had many successes this year, including a return to campus life, multi-million-dollar faculty grants awarded, successful alumni stories, and amazing student accomplishments. In April, last year we held the “Celebration of Students” in which we honored one student from each program with a $1000 scholarship and showcased the achievements of these students. This is now an annual event and invite you to join us.

Gratitude. I am grateful to everyone who makes the College a special place - and it does take a village. Our staff operate, mostly behind the scenes, to make sure things run smoothly. Our faculty educate and mentor our students all the while conducting ground-breaking research and creating thought-provoking pieces. Our alumni are ambassadors for the College and our donors enable us to do this amazing work in support of our students. Thank you.

Best wishes for the new year and a joyous holiday season.

Dr. Jenny McNulty, Dean

The Dean's Dispatch is a publication of the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Please visit us online at uaa.alaska.edu/cas. Feedback or story ideas can be sent to uaa_casnews@alaska.edu.

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