news briefs

2026 Winter Olympics silver medalist in Cross-Country Skiing Gus Schumacher in front of the Engineering and Industry Building in April 2026.

Horizontal panel composite images featuring five individual cross-country skiers in action with their last names shown in a green and yellow gradient

5 Seawolves competed at Winter Olympic Games in Italy

Five UAA alumni competed at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Feb. 6-22, where they chased the gold on the world stage. Schoonmaker, Schumacher and Swirbul previously competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

JC Schoonmaker, B.S. Natural Sciences ’22
Representing the U.S. in Nordic skiing
8th in Men’s Sprint Classic

Gus Schumacher, B.S. Civil Engineering ’24
Representing the U.S. in Nordic skiing
2nd in Men’s Team Sprint Free (with Ben Ogden)
6th in Men’s 4×7.5km Relay
24th in Men’s 10km+10km Skiathlon
31st in Men’s Sprint Classic

Hailey Swirbul, B.S. Civil Engineering ’21
Representing the U.S. in Nordic skiing
39th in Women’s 10km Interval Start Free

Peter Hinds, B.S. Civil Engineering ’25
Representing Slovakia in Nordic skiing
20th in Men’s Team Sprint Free
49th in Men’s Sprint Classic
60th in 10km+10km Skiathlon

Pascale Paradis, B.S. Natural Sciences ’24
Representing Canada in biathlon
17th in Mixed 4x6km Relay
19th in Women’s 4x6km Relay
24th in Women’s 15k Individual

(From left: Gus Schumacher, Pascale Paradis, Hailey Swirbul, Peter Hinds and JC Schoonmaker. Photo courtesy of UAA Athletics.)

University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) campus with two logos of American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation Elective Classifications

UAA earns national ‘gold standard’ for community impact

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education awarded UAA the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious national distinction recognizing universities with exceptional community partnerships. UAA is among just 5% of institutions nationwide to receive this honor and remains the only university in Alaska to hold the classification, reinforcing its leadership in community engagement across the state. First introduced in 2006, the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is widely considered the gold standard for recognizing how universities collaborate with their communities. Unlike traditional rankings focused on enrollment or funding, this designation highlights meaningful partnerships and measurable public impact. At UAA, faculty and students work alongside local organizations, school districts, Tribal partners, nonprofits and industry leaders to address real-world challenges and strengthen communities throughout Alaska. UAA has held this distinction continuously since its inaugural classification, reflecting a sustained, institution-wide commitment to engagement through teaching, research and service. Achieving reclassification required a rigorous self-study demonstrating how community engagement is embedded throughout the university’s mission, curriculum and culture. This designation, which extends through 2032, affirms UAA’s enduring role as a community-centered institution dedicated to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Alaska. (An aerial view of the UAA Anchorage campus.)

Dr. Jay Butler, University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Dean of the College of Health, smiles in a charcoal grey business blazer suit

Jay Butler named dean of the College of Health

On Dec. 28, 2025, Dr. Jay Butler joined UAA as the next dean of the College of Health. Butler brings a distinguished career in public health and infectious disease, including deep ties to Alaska’s health landscape. He previously served as Alaska’s chief medical officer and state epidemiologist, as well as chief of the Section of Epidemiology within the Division of Public Health from 2007 to 2009. He directed the Arctic Investigations Program for the National Center for Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 2010 to 2014, Butler served as senior director for Community Health Services at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and as an infectious diseases clinician at the Alaska Native Medical Center. He also served as an affiliate professor in UAA’s WWAMI School of Medical Education from 2008 to 2019, helping to prepare the next generation of Alaska’s health care professionals. Butler is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine, and North Carolina State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology. (Dr. Jay Butler, UAA College of Health dean.)

David Murray smiles in a navy blue polo top holding a new Dell laptop product box with green and gold color balloons nearby

Accounting department launches technology giveaway for students

UAA accounting and bookkeeping majors taking classes through the Anchorage campus now have the opportunity to win a new computer each semester, thanks to a new Department of Accounting program funded by the Lenore and George M. Hedla Endowment. The Accounting Student Success and Engagement Tech (ASSET) program awards students points based on grades in accounting and bookkeeping courses, as well as participation in tutoring and the Accounting Club. Eligible students are automatically entered into the giveaway, with winners selected using a transparent spreadsheet-based process at the end of each semester. To maximize impact, the program is designed to give lower-level students a slight advantage so they can use the computer throughout their academic career. A grade of C or better in eligible 100- and 200-level courses nets a student four points, while the same grade for 300- and 400-level courses is worth two points. Students receive an additional point for earning an A or B. Students can also earn points beyond just grades. Additional incentivized activities include serving as an officer in the Accounting Club and participating in tutoring (whether as a tutor or tutee). In addition to improving the odds of winning, research shows that both activities can help students be more likely to graduate by increasing their sense of belonging. (Student David Murray is surprised with a new Dell laptop after class as part of the ASSET program, made possible by the Lenore and George Hedla Fund.)

Individual Artist Awards RASMUSON FOUNDATION 2025 Project Award Recipients

Rasmuson Foundation honors 9 UAA alumni with artist awards

On Dec. 4, 2025, the Rasmuson Foundation announced the recipients of its annual Individual Artist Awards. Fifty artists, including nine UAA alumni, received $10,000 awards to support short-term projects that advance their development and practice. Congratulations to all the award recipients, including the following members of the UAA family:

Martha Amore, M.F.A. Creative Writing and Literary Arts ’09
Anchorage, literary arts/scriptworks

Shane Castle, M.F.A. Creative Writing and Literary Arts ’04
Anchorage, literary arts/scriptworks

Feng-Yao Chang, B.B.A. Marketing ’24
Anchorage, multidiscipline

Sarah Nunes, B.A. Languages ’23
Anchorage, dance/choreography

Andrea L. Hackbarth, M.F.A. Creative Writing and Literary Arts ’16
Palmer, literary arts/scriptworks

Erin Heist, M.F.A. Creative Writing and Literary Arts ’15
Juneau, music/music composition

Raymond Voley, M.A.T. Teaching ’93
Copper Center, media arts

Ed Washington, B.A. Music ’16
Anchorage, music/music composition

Taperrnaq Amber Webb, B.A. Art ’13
Aleknagik, folk and traditional arts

(Photo courtesy of the Rasmuson Foundation.)

9 UAA alumni named Top Forty Under 40 in 2026

On Feb. 14, 2026, the Alaska Journal of Commerce released its annual Top Forty Under 40 list. This group of leaders exemplifies excellence in professional and community service. Awardees were honored at a gala in the Hotel Captain Cook on April 10. Congratulations to all the awardees, including the nine Seawolf alumni who made this year’s list:

Vladislav Finko, B.B.A. Finance and Marketing ’20, M.B.A. General Management ’23
Marketing Strategist, Alaska Wealth Advisors

Kyle Fox, A.A. General Program ’06
Founder and Director, Alopex Interaction Design

Allie Hartman, M.P.A. Public Administration ’20
Assembly Communications Director, Municipality of Anchorage — Anchorage Assembly

Billy Hughes, B.B.A. Management ’16
Founder, Tundra Testing

Amanda Keates, B.B.A. Accounting ’08
Controller, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company

Jessica Kopischke, B.A. Psychology ’10
Owner/Founder/CEO, Frontier Health and Wellness

Zori Opanasevych, A.A. General Program ’19, B.A. Psychology ’20
Executive Director, New Chance Inc.

Jonathon Taylor, B.A. Political Science ’16
Director/Associate Vice President of Public Affairs, University of Alaska

Kalani Tucker, B.B.A. Management ’19
Tribal and Board Relations Manager, Cook Inlet Tribal Council

(Photos courtesy of the Alaska Journal of Commerce.)

5 Seawolves inducted to Anchorage ATHENA Society Class of 2026

On Feb. 20, the Anchorage ATHENA Society announced 12 inductees to the Class of 2026. Part of ATHENA International, the Anchorage ATHENA Society is a nonprofit organization hosted by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. ATHENA seeks to inspire women to reach their full potential and strive to create balance in leadership worldwide. Members are honored for success in their careers or professions, supporting women and giving back to their communities. Congratulations to all inductees, including the following Seawolf alumni:

Dana Fabe, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’10
Founder/Owner, Fabe Dispute Resolution

Gretchen Fauske
Special Programs Director, Small Business Development Center at UAA

Katherine Jernstrom, M.P.A. Public Administration ’15
Founder/Owner, The Boardroom

Michele Parkhurst, B.A. Journalism and Public Communications ’07
President, Kaladi Brothers Coffee

Additionally, this year’s ATHENA Leadership Award went to Dr. Anne Zink, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters ’22, former chief medical officer for the State of Alaska. The society’s highest honor, the ATHENA Leadership Award recognizes an ATHENA inductee for exceptional service.

(Photos courtesy of the Alaska Journal of Commerce.)

Group of six students and the UAA Spirit the Seawolf mascot stand in a campus lobby holding yellow and white signs for UAA Giving Day

$450K+ raised for UAA students and programs during Giving Day 2026

From March 24-26, UAA celebrated 49 Hours for Alaska with the university’s sixth annual Giving Day, a philanthropic event hosted in partnership with the University of Alaska Foundation, UAF and UAS. Thanks to all of the students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of UAA who participated, 2026 marked the most successful event yet! More than 2,000 donors came together to raise over $450,000 for UAA students and programs. Across the entire University of Alaska system, more than 3,000 donors raised over $1.1 million. UAA built on the momentum of last year’s Giving Day, which raised more than $416,000 from over 1,600 donors. This year, the university offered many opportunities for donors to support students, with dozens of challenges and opportunities to unlock matching funds. Social media amplified the giving spirit, turning local Facebook and Instagram pages green and gold for more than two full days as UAA colleges, community campuses, student groups, student-athletes and community members spread the word about Giving Day. (Pictured: Angel Wagner, John Pharr III, Moshi Moshi, Aurora Smith, Kaccee Belanger and Ryan Botting.)

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