UAA Alumni Spirit Spring 2021
UAA Alumni Spirit INDEX Spring 2021 • ISSUE 15
FEATURES
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Despite the normal challenges of operating a business, along with the difficulties presented by a once-in-a-generation pandemic, these alumni-owned businesses have endured, thanks in part to community solidarity, government investment and forward thinking.
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As an intern for the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, mechanical engineering student Henry Toal has collaborated with researchers across the statewide University of Alaska system on projects related to sustainable energy.
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The university’s new strategic plan will be a guiding document as UAA begins navigating a new decade. Hear from different Seawolf groups as they share their hopes for UAA 2025.
SPOTLIGHTS
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Since last year, important conversations on accountability in law enforcement have occurred across the country. It’s a topic close to justice alumnus Kenneth McCoy, deputy chief of operations for the Anchorage Police Department.
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As supervisor of the Knik Tribe’s behavioral health program, social work alumna Naidene Baechler works to resolve the high rates of suicide among Alaska Natives and missing and murdered Indigenous women through educational and economic equity.
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Accounting alumna and U.S. Air Force major Christina Geller knows the difference a scholarship can make. For the last decade, she has paid it forward to the scholarship that made her own education possible.
ON THE COVER
From the editor
This issue of Spirit is full of stories about recovery. Some of the Seawolves you’ll hear from include social work alumna Naidene Baechler. As program manager for the Knik Tribe’s new behavioral health program, she provides access to mental health resources at a time when maintaining wellness can seem challenging, but is more crucial than ever.
From an alumna — Natasha Pineda
Working together to make higher education accessible to all Alaskans
While each of our universities has its own identity and specialty, our strength comes from our shared vision for the future of higher education in Alaska.
As we adjusted to college during the COVID-19 pandemic, each university harnessed its expertise and area of focus to help support the issues our state faced. In some instances, that work involved collaboration across universities as researchers and students from UAA and UAF joined state public health efforts to help identify new, more contagious variants in Alaska, sequencing the virus’ genes — a process critical to keeping the virus under control. Others who were already studying coronaviruses shifted their focus to COVID-19 research.
Coping During COVID
Sweet Caribou: Reinvesting in community
James Strong, B.B.A. Finance ‘06, owner of macaron shop Sweet Caribou, is aware of the situation. During the first month, Strong had to lay off 50% of his 26 employees. The difficult decision was made even harder due to his encouragement of employee longevity based on his time managing other restaurants in Anchorage.
At the Intersection of Community and Agency
As deputy chief of operations for the Anchorage Police Department (APD) since 2017, every uniformed man and woman in a patrol car conducting criminal police investigation falls under McCoy’s chain of command, including detectives, school resource officers, K-9s and SWAT.
McCoy’s position is the culmination of a 27-year career with APD. Starting at the patrol level, he steadily rose through the ranks with detective and command assignments in the Special Victims and Robbery/Assault Units.
Before his current assignment, McCoy was tasked with leading the Internal Affairs Unit, which works directly with the chief of police to hold officers accountable for misconduct and address concerns from the community.
Community Minded,
Data Driven
Shaping the program is Naidene Baechler, M.S.W. Social Work ’20. Despite only recently graduating, Baechler is more than ready for the role, having previously interned with the Knik Tribe during her M.S.W. curriculum.
More recently, the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States named her as one of three Arctic Indigenous Scholars for 2020, an honor awarded to individuals whose work exemplifies social, political and environmental issues in their communities.
Ultimately, Baechler’s focus is twofold: to resolve the high rates of suicide among the Alaska Native community and the increased number of missing and murdered Indigenous women through educational and economic equity.
Community of
Collaboration
Meaningful work
Toal’s first project was to help develop prototypes for the Onsite Realtime Collection and Acquisition platform — or ORCA — a simple-to-install and easy-to-use data collection tool. ORCA enables a better understanding of energy utilization in Alaska’s rural communities, where powerhouses are often older models incapable of storing long-term data. This, in turn, improves decision making when it comes to incorporating renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydroelectricity.
“Something I really appreciate about ACEP,” Toal said, “is they gave me the trust and support right from the start to do meaningful work. It feels good to know that what I contributed makes Alaska a better place. And the ORCA could really be used anywhere with older powerhouses — all across the world, really — so who knows what the impact will be?”
Clearing Others for Liftoff
As a recipient of donor-funded scholarships herself, Geller used this aid to supplement her UA Scholars Award, bestowed to Alaska high school students who are in the top 10% of their class.
“By receiving those scholarships, UAA and the Air Force ROTC program were paying it forward to me, so now I am paying it forward to someone else,” said Geller. “I know how financially difficult it can be to go to college for some. And since I received those scholarships, I did not have to pay as much, so I wanted to give back.”
Along with giving back and opening the door for future UAA students, Geller had three other specific career goals in mind after graduating: to deploy with the Air Force at least once, to become squadron commander and eventually lieutenant colonel.
As a recipient of donor-funded scholarships herself, Geller used this aid to supplement her UA Scholars Award, bestowed to Alaska high school students who are in the top 10% of their class.
“By receiving those scholarships, UAA and the Air Force ROTC program were paying it forward to me, so now I am paying it forward to someone else,” said Geller. “I know how financially difficult it can be to go to college for some. And since I received those scholarships, I did not have to pay as much, so I wanted to give back.”
Along with giving back and opening the door for future UAA students, Geller had three other specific career goals in mind after graduating: to deploy with the Air Force at least once, to become squadron commander and eventually lieutenant colonel.
Return of
the Alumni
On Feb. 22-27, alumni tuned in and geared up for the revamped Nine in the Spine at Winterfest. Dubbed This is the Way to Winterfest, this year’s festivities were themed around hit Star Wars show The Mandalorian and consisted of online events and outdoor activities in partnership with UAA Student Activities and Commuter Programs.
“Due to COVID, Student Activities wasn’t sure they could manage Winterfest alone,” said Corey Miller, student activities coordinator. “The Alumni Association stepped up with a series of fun activities, which helped everyone to create a week full of fun and safe events.”
UAA 2025
Mission
UAA transforms lives through teaching, research, community engagement and creative expression in a diverse and inclusive environment. Serving students, the state and the communities of Southcentral Alaska, UAA is a comprehensive, open access, public university established on the ancestral lands of the Dena’ina, Ahtna Dene, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq, Chugachmiut and Eyak peoples.
Alumni Life
Alumni
News
Briefs
a difference
Hockey alumni and NHL team show support
University of Alaska launches largest fundraising campaign in state history
Four themes — education, workforce, research and economy — are common to the overarching statewide campaign. UAA is also prioritizing support for its student-athletes by adding a fifth campaign priority.
UA showcased the university system’s priorities and campaign progress with a virtual launch celebration on March 25, hosted by Diane Kaplan, president and CEO of the Anchorage-based Rasmuson Foundation. The event featured an anthem video illustrating the pivotal role of higher education in shaping Alaska’s future, narrated by Willie Hensley, visiting distinguished professor of public policy at UAA.
Don’t Miss Events
Save the Date: Homecoming Breakfast on Friday, Oct. 8
We also know that this year’s event will feature keynote speaker Princess Daazhraii Johnson, M.Ed. Teaching and Learning ’17, former creative producer on the Peabody Award-winning PBS show Molly of Denali.
So mark your calendars for the UAA Alumni Association’s annual Homecoming Breakfast and spend your morning reconnecting and reminiscing with classmates while supporting current students and programs at UAA.
Stay tuned for updates at uaa.alaska.edu/homecomingbreakfast.
Class Notes
1993
1997
2003
lens on campus
Get ready to nominate!
Each year, the Alumni of Distinction awards highlight UAA’s best and brightest graduates who are making a positive impact in their community. Help us spread the news by nominating an exceptional Seawolf! Categories include Alumni of Achievement, Alumni Humanitarian and Alumni Emerging Leader. View award information and nomination forms at uaa.alaska.edu/alumniofdistinction.
Masthead
EDITOR
Matt Jardin, B.B.A. ’10
WRITERS
Matt Jardin, B.B.A. ’10
Joe Selmont, B.A. ’14, M.P.A. ’21
Alex Komar
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Brett Rawalt
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
James Evans, B.A. ’16
Katie Bender, M.P.A. ’10
Lea Bouton, M.A.T. ’10
Crystal Enkvist, B.A. ’93, M.P.A. ’13
Tim Gravel, B.B.A. ’89
Virginia Groeschel, B.S. ’06, M.S. ’20
Jessica Horwatt, B.B.A. ’97
Jessica Jacobsen, B.S. ’13
Stacey Lucason, B.A. ’18
Megan Moore, B.A. ’08
Pearl-Grace Pantaleone, B.A. ’14
Lonnie Ridgeway, B.A. ’18.
Stephanie Schuman, A.A. ’14, B.B.A. ’15
Jonathon Taylor, B.A. ’16
Tanya Pont, Ex-Officio,
Director of Alumni Engagement
Kate Consenstein, B.A. ’11
Josh Edge, B.A. ’10
Jason Herr, B.A. ’20
Karen Lewis, A.A. ’01,
B.A. ’04, A.A.S. ’13
UAA OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
907-786-1942
seawolf.forever@alaska.edu
uaa.alaska.edu/alumni
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