UAA Alumni Spirit Spring 2021

UAA Spring 2021 cover
Logo of UAA Alumni Spirit
Spring 2021 Issue 15

UAA Alumni Spirit INDEX Spring 2021 • ISSUE 15

FEATURES

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

A competitor reaches for the ball in the one hand reach event during the 2018 Native Youth Olympics at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Matt Jardin interviewing a statue

From the editor

At the time of this writing, one year has passed since we were all instructed to hunker down to ride out what we understood — and perhaps hoped — to be a brief pandemic. Since then, it wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that our entire way of life has changed. Over the past year of uncertainty, we’ve sacrificed and we’ve adapted, and now we recover.

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

natasha pineda
from an alumna
Reflect. Change. Nourish. These are my three words for 2021. Everything has changed over the past year: the way we live, the conversations we have and our visions of tomorrow. No doubt the future will be different than we imagined it to be 12 months ago. We have been pulled into unknown territories, each of us challenged in different ways. Rapid change and daily unknowns have been, and still are, taxing on our minds and bodies. Some days can feel like months’ worth of challenges. This rapid shift in the way we process information, make decisions and respond as professionals, family members or community members has exhausted many of us.

Working together to make higher education accessible to all Alaskans

Bruce Schultz headshot
Bruce Schultz, UAA Interim Chancellor
The University of Alaska system is home to three distinct and independent universities working in tandem to provide the best outcomes for higher education in the state. This is all to benefit Alaskans — our students, our future workforce, employers and our communities at large. We’re looking to the future with a cohesive vision to offer solutions to the issues Alaska faces today, and to create an accessible path to higher education for any student.

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

Phillip Blanchett, A.A. General Program ‘02, co-founder of Pamyua
Opening and operating a business is no simple feat. Add a once-in-a-generation pandemic and the outlook appears even more dire. Despite these odds, many businesses owned and managed by Seawolves continue to succeed, thanks in part to community solidarity, government investment and forward thinking.

Sweet Caribou: Reinvesting in community

As increased health standards spread resources thin and restrictions on dine-in options limited patronage, arguably no business sector was as impacted by COVID-19 as the restaurant industry, with about 17% of America’s restaurants having permanently closed according to a CNN report.

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

At the Intersection of Community and Agency Title
Since last year, important conversations regarding the topic of equity and accountability in law enforcement have occurred across the country. It’s a topic close to Kenneth McCoy, B.A. Justice ’96, having made it the cornerstone of his entire career philosophy.

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

This past March, the Knik Tribe launched its behavioral health program amid a growing understanding of the importance of maintaining mental health during the ongoing pandemic.

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

For UAA mechanical engineering undergraduate Henry Toal, it has been a gratifying experience to join one of UAA’s research communities. Toal works as an intern in the Anchorage office of the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP), a program based at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he has contributed to several research projects.

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

Clearing Others for Liftoff typography
For the past decade, Christina Geller, A.A.S. Accounting ’03, B.B.A. Accounting ’06, and her husband Yevgeniy Geller, B.B.A. Management ’04, have been supporting the UAA Excellence in Air Force ROTC scholarship.

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.

Maj. Christina Geller relinquishing command of 9th comptroller squadron
Clearing Others for Liftoff typography
For the past decade, Christina Geller, A.A.S. Accounting ’03, B.B.A. Accounting ’06, and her husband Yevgeniy Geller, B.B.A. Management ’04, have been supporting the UAA Excellence in Air Force ROTC scholarship.

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.

Maj. Christina Geller relinquishing command of 9th comptroller squadron

Return of
the Alumni

Alumni Spirit magazine designer Brett Rawalt (right) got involved with this year’s Nine in the Spine at Winterfest, submitting this photo of his handmade Ewok costume for the Star Wars Cosplay Contest.
Nearly one year into the coronavirus pandemic, it’s no longer surprising to hear when an event has to be reimagined to occur digitally. Although day-to-day schedules are already full of online meetings, UAA alumni still turned up to show their support at one of the university’s most long-standing annual advocacy opportunities.

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

Illustration
The UAA 2025 Strategic Plan is a framework that defines, communicates and brings to life our shared expectations for UAA by the year 2025. The plan builds on our strengths and focuses attention and resources on delivering high-quality education to meet the needs of the people of Alaska and build a better future. After months of meetings at all levels of our institution, including with alumni and community partners, UAA 2025 consists of five key aspirations and subsequent strategies to achieve each of them.

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

Journalism alumna Kari Bustamante, B.A. ’12 (right), and her brother Mitch (left) posing with Spirit during UAA Day at Alyeska Resort from March 2021.
Marketing alumna Mickela Olson, B.B.A. ‘01 (front), and her son (back) exploring Matanuska Glacier.
History alumna Sarah Nelson, B.A. ’98 (left), enjoying the Big Island in Hawaii with her family after receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Journalism alumna Kari Bustamante, B.A. ’12 (right), and her brother Mitch (left) posing with Spirit during UAA Day at Alyeska Resort from March 2021.
Marketing alumna Mickela Olson, B.B.A. ‘01 (front), and her son (back) exploring Matanuska Glacier.
History alumna Sarah Nelson, B.A. ’98 (left), enjoying the Big Island in Hawaii with her family after receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Alumni
News
Briefs

seawolves making
a difference
Hockey player celebrating

Hockey alumni and NHL team show support

Former hockey teammates Brian Kraft, B.B.A. Marketing ’91, and Steve “Bogie” Bogoyevac each made a $25,000 contribution toward Seawolf hockey’s reinstatement after seeing the momentum from the community and the vocal support from the Seattle Kraken NHL team. Kraft and Bogoyevac have also agreed to match donations from any UAA alumni dollar-for-dollar up to another $50,000.

University of Alaska launches largest fundraising campaign in state history

The University of Alaska system has launched the public phase of For Alaska, a multi-year fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $200 million by 2024. To date, more than $135 million has been raised from more than 16,000 donors since the quiet phase of the campaign began in 2016.

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

A table with cutlery and glasses set with people talking in groups at the Homecoming Breakfast in the background
Portrait photo of Princess Daazhraii Johnson wearing a brown leather jacket and smiling in front of a contemporary building
Princess Daazhraii Johnson

Save the Date: Homecoming Breakfast on Friday, Oct. 8

We don’t know what the future holds. But what we do know is that we’ll be getting together as is tradition every fall — online or in person!

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

Smiling portrait photo of Elizabeth Pavlas standing in front of a light grey background, a direct light shining on the crown of her hair
Elizabeth Pavlas
Smiling portrait photo of Erica Jensen in a warm-lit room
Erica Jensen
Photo of Jun Robinson holding a baby wearing an animal-themed onesie and knelt in the snow, a black dog with a red collar in the background with its nose in the snow.
Jun Robinson
Smiling portrait photo of Arin Wooster in a suit with a light blue dress shirt.
Arin Wooster

1993

Economics alumnus and Alaska Superior Court judge Paul Roetman, B.A. ’93, was reappointed to serve as presiding judge for the Second Judicial District in December 2020. He was appointed to the bench in 2010 and has served as the presiding judge since 2015.

1997

Civil engineering grad Lisa Corcoran, B.S. ’97, was promoted to manager of planning and engineering at Spokane International Airport in January 2021.

2003

Educational leadership grad Clayton Holland, M.Ed. ’03, will become the next superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District following a unanimous vote in favor by the board of education during a special meeting in late January 2021.

lens on campus

Spring has finally sprung, and though the campus has fewer students attending in person, the joy of winter’s end is plainly evident to anyone within shuttle distance.
UAA Alumni Awards 2021 Badge

Get ready to nominate!

Nominations open May 17, 2021.

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

magazine staff
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

UAA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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
2020–2022 ALUMNI EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
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
alumniUAA
UAAalumni
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UA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.
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Thanks for reading our Spring 2021 issue!