aaacevedo@alaska.edu
907-474-5142

Territories: Fairbanks North Star Borough, Military, Homeschool and AHEAD students

Aaron was born in sunny California, where he enjoyed the first eleven years of his childhood. In 2001, after a long drive across the Alaska Highway, Aaron and his family permanently relocated to his new home in the Last Frontier: Fairbanks.

Aaron graduated from West Valley High School in 2007 as a proud Wolfpack alumnus and makes a concerted effort to stay connected with his alma mater. After high school, Aaron decided to stay in-state and attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Four and a half years later coupled with countless hours of procrastination and the typical ramen noodle dinner, Aaron graduated from UAF with a bachelor’s degree in History and a Law & Society minor. His undergraduate thesis examined the East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry in rap & hip-hop music.

In his spare time Aaron enjoys spending quality time with his family, kickin’ it old school with his amigos, exercising, playing Ultimate Frisbee and writing fiction. Aaron is an active karaoke enthusiast who appreciates a good burger and a strong cup o’ Joe, and he has a deep love for rap & hip-hop music.

albristor@alaska.edu
907-474-6086

Territories: Alaska - Southcentral and Southeast, and UA Scholars. 

Amy was born in Anchorage and raised in Wasilla attending both Wasilla High School and Houston High School.  She attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks studying Psychology and Human Services.  Amy has vast experience with the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus having worked as a student at the student activities office, as staff at the Summer Sessions office and as the outreach coordinator at the UAF Community and Technical College.  Amy now considers Fairbanks her second hometown and enjoys the strong sense of community that Fairbanks and the UAF campus has to offer.  In her free time she enjoys cooking and gardening.  In the summer you will find her fishing, camping and picking berries with her two daughters and her husband.

mmkreta@alaska.edu
907-474-6231

Director of Admissions

Mary was raised in Portland, Oregon and, in 1999, came to UAF to play basketball for the Nanooks. In 2003, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. After a stint as a research intern in D.C., Mary spent the next few years traveling the world and earning a master’s degree in English. After several years as an adjunct instructor in the Pacific Northwest, she happily rejoined the UAF community in 2010.

Mary can often be found cheering on the Nanooks at a sporting event or attending a concert on campus. She adores the aurora and loves to share Alaska with friends and family who venture north for a visit. She doesn’t drink coffee – only tea, preferably English breakfast or Earl Gray. Her current goal is to learn how to cross country ski on the 17 miles of cross country ski trails on campus.

jpsmelter@alaska.edu
907-474-6679

Territories: International and transfer students

John grew up in rural Pennsylvania and earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications. Upon graduating, John worked in New York and then moved to Japan, where he taught English in the JET Program for two years. While in Japan, John studied ceramics with a family of Japanese potters. In 2006 he moved to Alaska and began studying and working at UAF. John earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in ceramics from UAF in 2011, and he now works with UAF students as an admissions counselor and adjunct professor of art.

In addition to his interest in art, John loves to be outside. In the winter, John enjoys hunting, skiing and skijoring with his golden retriever, Rocky. In the summer months, he enjoys gardening, fishing, berry picking, canoeing and camping with his wife and friends. John is passionate about life in Alaska, and he particularly enjoys welcoming new people to the Fairbanks community.

alwald@alaska.edu
907-474-5129

Territories: Alaska - Rural (including rural road system), and the Lower 48 - Central & Mountain timezones

Born and raised on a small farm in northeast South Dakota, Amy moved to Alaska in 2006 with her husband Eric. They spent four years in Bethel, where Amy worked for the UAF Kuskokwim Campus' Educational Talent Search program. She's excited to be a part of the UAF community in Fairbanks. Amy enjoys spending time with family and friends (which includes 2 cats) and traveling. She is also quite crafty enjoying stamping, crocheting and cooking. If you have any questions or would like more information on UAF, please feel free to contact Amy at alwald@alaska.edu.