Board of Directors
In everything we do, we strive to connect and support UAF and its alumni. We encourage excellence in all aspects of the university and provide opportunities for alumni to engage in lifelong involvement with their university community. We could not do what we do without our Board of Director’s strategic guidance and support, and we hold ourselves accountable to you and them. This distinguished group of alum leaders invest their time, passion, and resources to support UAFAA, and for that we are thankful.
A message from the new UAF Alumni Association president
It is an honor to serve as president of the UAF Alumni Association alongside our executive
director, Theresa Bakker, and a highly qualified board of directors, who volunteer
with passion to show tremendous support and enthusiasm when promoting UAF and its
alumni.
I am excited to see the great potential for organizational growth, new engagement
opportunities and enhanced communications when our alumni get the chance to join the
brand new Nanook Nation online mentoring platform in May.
As president, it is my plan to uphold the mission and collective goals of this board,
to encourage alumni support of UAF students while striving to enhance their college
experience, to collaborate with faculty and staff in support of the university's mission
and to encourage the community to attend UAF sporting events and public celebrations;
whether they take place in person or virtually.
Please be safe and stay healthy.
Go Nanooks!
Cindy Wright, '88
President UAFAA
2020 - 2021 UAF Alumni Association Board of Directors
Board officers
Cindy Wright, ’88
Board President/chair
Seat 9, Fairbanks; 2019 - 2022
1988 - Bachelor's in Education
Owner, Playwright Marketing
Tom Brice, ’90
Vice President
Seat 7, Southeast; 2018 - 2021
1990 - BA, Political Science
Mary Beth Loewen, ’02, ’07
Board Secretary
Seat 2, Southcentral; 2020-2023
2002 - BS, Natural Sciences
2007 - MA, Fisheries
Fisheries biologist, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Forrest Kuiper, ’99, ’00, ’12
Board Treasurer
Seat 3, Fairbanks; 2020-2023
1999 - AAS, Municipal Fire Control
2000 - AAS, Hazardous Material Control
2012 - BEM, Emergency Management
Fire Captain, UAF Fire Department
Board members
Rachel Panamarioff, '06
Seat 1, Rural; 2020-2023
2006 - BA Elementary Education
Teacher, Fred Ipalook Elementary School, Utqiagvik
Shannon McCarthy, ’88
Seat 4, Southcentral; 2018 - 2021
1988 - BA, Political Science
Public Information Officer, State of Alaska Central Region of the Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities
Stacey Howdeshell, '13, '19
Seat 5, FNSB; 2018-2021
2013 - AA Art
2019 - BA Art/Sculpture
Advisor in the UAF Academic Advising Center
Amanda Wall, ’01 ’05
Seat 6, At Large; 2018-2021
2001 - BA Journalism
2005 - MA Professional Communications
Associate Vice chancellor for Financial Services, UAF
George Cromer III, ’03
Seat 8, At-Large; 2019 - 2022
2003 - MA Rural Development
Second/Third Grade Teacher
Airport Heights Elementary, Anchorage
Libby Eddy, ’92
Seat 10, Outside (Lower 48); 2019-2022
1992 - Associate of Arts
Retired/Former Registrar and Director of Admissions, UAF
Ex-Officio Board members
Shannon McCarthy, ’88
Southcentral Chapter President; 2015 - 2018
1988 - BA, Political Science
Ron Wall, ’02
Fairbanks Chapter President
1989 - BA Justice
Commander, Alaska State Troopers "D" Detachment (Interior Alaska)
Jeremy Vermilyea , ’92
Pacific Northwest Alumni Contact
1992 - BA, Journalism
