Steering Committee and Organization

Board of Regents' Goal

The University strives to better represent the Îçҹ̽»¨ population, for all to feel they belong, and for the change to be visible and recognized. 

The Îçҹ̽»¨, guided by the Board of Regents, is committed to:

  1. Improving the participation and success of Îçҹ̽»¨ Natives through educational achievement statewide, and
  2. Improving Îçҹ̽»¨ Native representation and success throughout the University of Îçҹ̽»¨ system.
The Board of Regents establishes understanding and addressing racial justice issues as a board priority. As a first step, the board authorizes and directs the university president to take the necessary actions to collect data; study and understand the university climate and programming; and identify the barriers, challenges and opportunities to improve participation and outcomes for Îçҹ̽»¨ Native and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff, in particular to address diminished Îçҹ̽»¨ Native and Indigenous student and faculty recruitment, selection, retention, development, and advancement over past academic years. The president will report her findings back to the board in June 2021. This motion is effective November 6, 2020.

Structure

A steering committee of leaders representing the University of Îçҹ̽»¨ Board of Regents, chancellors, and Îçҹ̽»¨ Native corporations, tribal entities, and organizations will help guide the process. The steering committee will serve in an advisory role to the university president.  

University based action teams led by their respective chancellor or designee will conduct a baseline evaluation of the climate for Îçҹ̽»¨ Native students, faculty and staff at each university. This evaluation will include both qualitative and quantitative data related to programs, recruitment, retention and academic success. 

Several members of the steering committee are members of the university action teams; this is by design to ensure alignment and communication across the working groups.

Steering Committee

  • Jennifer Booz, Chief Diversity Officer*
  • Ronalda Cadiente Brown, Associate Vice Chancellor for Îçҹ̽»¨ Native Programs*
  • Sheri Buretta, Interim President and CEO, Chugach Îçҹ̽»¨ Corporation; UA Board of Regents Chair
  • Karen Carey, UAS Chancellor
  • Emily Edenshaw, President & CEO, Îçҹ̽»¨ Native Heritage Center
  • Liz Medicine Crow, President and CEO, First Îçҹ̽»¨ns Institute
  • Joe Nelson, Board Chair, Sealaska
  • Tabetha Toloff, CAO, Cook Inlet Tribal Council
  • Richard Peterson, President, Central Council, Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Îçҹ̽»¨
  • Pat Pitney,  UA President
  • Sean Parnell, UAA Chancellor
  • Geri Simon, Tanana Chiefs Conference
  • Charlene Stern, Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education*
  • Daniel White, UAF Chancellor
  • Michele Yatchmeneff, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and ANSEP Assistant Director*

University of Îçҹ̽»¨ Anchorage

  • Jennifer Booz, Chief Diversity Officer*
  • Eric Carlson, Associate Professor of Library Science
  • Sara Childress, Director of the Office of Equity and Compliance
  • Emily Edenshaw, President & CEO, Îçҹ̽»¨ Native Heritage Center, community member
  • Annmarie Iya, Undergraduate student, Native Student Council club president
  • Agatha John-Shields, PhD, Term faculty, School of Education
  • Claudia Lampman, Vice Provost for Student Success
  • Benjamin Morton, Dean of Students
  • Joe Nelson, Board Chair, Sealaska, community member
  • Sondra Shaginoff-Stuart, UAA Chair of Îçҹ̽»¨ Native Studies
  • Christina Stuive, Associate Professor of Counseling, Kenai Peninsula College
  • Aleesha Town-Bain, BBNC Education Foundation executive director, community member
  • Jessica Saniguq Ullrich, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
  • Michael Ulroan, ANSEP Senior Director of Acceleration Components
  • Maria Shaa tlaa Williams, PhD, Professor, Îçҹ̽»¨ Native Studies
  • Michele Yatchmeneff, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and ANSEP Assistant Director*
  • Rebecca Young, Clinical-Community Psychology PhD student, 2019 cohort

University of Îçҹ̽»¨ Fairbanks

  • Barb Amarok, Director, Northwest Campus
  • Jessica Black, Assistant Professor of Îçҹ̽»¨ Native Studies and Rural Development
  • Courtney Carothers, Professor, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
  • Keith Champagne, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
  • Dr. Reverend Anna Frank, Fairbanks Native Association board member
  • Owen Guthrie, Director of eCampus
  • Carlton Huatala, Rural Student Admissions Counselor
  • Margaret Rudolf, PhD student, Arctic & Northern Studies
  • Gabrielle Russell, Manager, Indigenous Student Services
  • Geri Simon, Tanana Chiefs Conference
  • Charlene Stern, Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education*
  • Sean AsiqÅ‚uq Topkok, Associate Professor, College of Liberal Arts Center for Cross-Cultural Studies
  • Brooke Woods, student, Fisheries & Ocean Sciences

University of Îçҹ̽»¨ Southeast

  • Louise Brady, Title III, Sitka
  • Gloria Burns, President, Ketchikan Indian Community
  • Ronalda Cadiente Brown, Associate Vice Chancellor for Îçҹ̽»¨ Native Programs*
  • Dionne Cadiente-Blattner, Tribal Education Programs Director, Douglas Indian Association
  • Dannielle Carlson, Rural Admissions Counselor
  • Lauryn Framke, UAS student
  • Joe Hillaire, Nang Sk’at’aas, UAS student
  • Mischa Jackson, Assistant Professor of Secondary Education
  • Joe Nelson, Sealaska Board Chair
  • Sarah Peele, UAS student
  • Richard Peterson, President, Central Council, Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Îçҹ̽»¨
  • Lance Twitchell, Associate Professor of Îçҹ̽»¨ Native Languages

* Lead facilitators for campus action teams will serve as ex officio members of the steering committee.

Initiative staff

  • Andrew Aquino, Project Coordinator, President’s Office
  • Kerynn Fisher, Special Assistant to the President
  • Roberta Graham, Associate Vice President for Public Affairs
  • Paul Layer, Vice President for Academics, Students and Research
  • Michelle Rizk, Vice President for University Relations

 Process

After the action teams develop the baseline evaluation of each universities’ current program offerings and data on the recruitment, retention and success of Îçҹ̽»¨ Native faculty, students and staff, the steering committee and action teams will develop an overarching five-year plan with specific system-wide and university-based goals and targets.  Additionally, the process is expected to yield recommendations for policy and regulations changes.  

 Concurrently and independently, it is anticipated that the ANCSA Education Consortium will compile information on programs focused on increasing education attainment by Îçҹ̽»¨ Natives. Representatives involved in this effort will be invited to participate in developing the UA System five-year plan.

In accordance with the November 2020 Board of Regents resolution*, these reports present baseline d