FEATURES

1. turning the page
   UAA’s School of Education is hitting its stride with the announcement of the B.A. in early childhood education, the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation granting accreditation at the advanced level in 2021 and the recent hire of Tonia Dousay as dean.
2. Taking pride in one’s work
   UAA unveiled its new Pride Center on the Anchorage campus in January 2023 — the first of its kind in Alaska. At the grand opening, visitors and supporters were welcomed by art alum Jessi Saiki, who serves as the center’s engagement and belonging coordinator.
3. From Seawolf to Shazam!
   After getting his start shooting UAA hockey and basketball games, journalism and public communications alumnus D.K. Johnston has gone on to work in virtually every other position in the filmmaking process, from low-budget independent films to multimillion-dollar Marvel movies.
4. Like mother like daughter
   Physical education alumna Morgan Hooe not only honors her mother’s legacy through her position as Seawolf volleyball assistant coach, but also through the establishment of the Liz Hooe Memorial Volleyball Scholarship.
5. Researching microbiology in Antarctica
   In December 2022, doctoral student and biological sciences alumna Kodi Haughn traveled to Antarctica with a research team to study the chemical cycling of microbes. What she learned could help scientists ask better questions about life on Earth, and even on other planets.
6. Alumni of Distinction
   Meet this year’s Alumni of Distinction: Alumni of Achievement and justice alumnus Kenneth McCoy, Alumni Humanitarian and psychology alumna Maggie Winston, and Alumni Emerging Leader and aviation alumna Marie-Sophie Boggasch.

DEPARTMENTS

1. From the Editor
2. From an alumna
3. From the chancellor
4. News Briefs
5. Class Notes
6. Lens on Campus

ON THE COVER

From the Editor

In this ever upward issue, we’re elevating alumni who have risen above, including journalism and public communications alumnus D.K. Johnston, who recently served as additional second assistant director on the high-flying superhero film Shazam! Fury of the Gods for DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures.

Also featured in this issue is biological sciences alumna Kodi Haughn, who recently returned from a research trip to Antarctica to learn what microbial ecologies can reveal about how life emerged on our planet.

From An Alumna

One maxim I embraced in the program was “think outside the box,” a vital mindset that has given me an edge toward excelling in my life and career. As market development manager at Quintillion, the critical thinking and organizational skills honed in the MSPM program are top drawer in my go-to daily toolbox. They’ve been key to managing complex projects with diverse stakeholders and numerous moving parts that are par for the course at Quintillion. Providing critical broadband infrastructure to the hostile environment of the Arctic is no stroll in the park! An added benefit has been working with a highly competent team and supportive boss, Mac McHale, in achieving these goals.

Likewise, my success wouldn’t have been possible without the fierce support of my husband Ifeanyi Maduakor, himself a telecom engineer, not to mention my entire family. I would be naive not to acknowledge the advantage I enjoyed from growing up in a family with strong bonds. Having happily married parents is always an upward boost in life — mine also happen to be accomplished academics with a strong work ethic who modeled the crucial value of education. Their influence has been a pillar of motivation in running life’s obstacle race.

Perhaps most importantly, the Pride Center is a visible place for all members of the UAA community to explore gender identity and sexual orientation in a non-judgmental atmosphere. This commitment to representation and visibility can go a long way toward student retention, especially in LGBTQ students.

“If people feel like they belong at a foundational level, that sets them free to be their best selves wherever they are, and that makes a huge difference in student life, staff life and our community relationship,” said Jessi Saiki, B.F.A. Art ’19, Pride Center engagement and belonging coordinator.

Saiki is the perfect face of the Pride Center, having both the personal experience to empathize with anyone who walks in needing support, as well as a professional background that represents the center’s mission.

Johnston served as additional second assistant director on Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Released on March 14, 2023, the DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures sequel to 2019’s Shazam! filmed in 2021 from May to August at Atlanta Metro Studios in Georgia.

“What I will say is it was the best film I ever worked on. It was one of those few sets where everyone was in sync and no one walked away unhappy,” laughed Johnston when pressed to share any juicy on-set anecdotes. “There are stories involving Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu that I would love to talk about, but not until way down the road when I know I won’t get in trouble.”

All that training helped Hooe become one of the best volleyball players in UAA history. Initially, she didn’t want to stay in Alaska to play volleyball, saying, “Coach Green was recruiting me as a defensive specialist, but according to him, I told him I would only go to UAA if I was a setter, and the rest is history.” Hooe competed in the 2016 national title match, led the Seawolves to conference and regional titles and earned All-American honors as a senior in 2019.

As part of a research team that included UAA Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Brandon Briggs, Ph.D., plus one professor and three students from Miami University in Ohio, and a sixth grade PolarTrec teacher from California, Haughn spent a month tent camping across Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys researching microbial ecology.

This year’s celebration coincided with UAA Culinary Arts’ 50th anniversary and featured the program’s students extending their academic learning into practical application by developing the event menu, preparing the meal and running the buffet service of their delicious creations.

Nearly 200 graduates and supporters packed Lucy Cuddy Hall on the Anchorage campus to reconnect with their hometown university while raising donations to benefit UAA programs and scholarships. In just one hour, the gathered alumni raised more than $12,000.