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.
Nominations sought for UAF Alumni Association board
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association is accepting nominations to serve three-year terms on its 12-member board of directors.The open seats are:
Seat 4-B, Southcentral Alaska
Seat 5-B, Fairbanks North Star Borough
Seat 6-B, At Large
Seat 7-B, Southeast
Nominations will be accepted through March 15, 2021. Nominees must be UAF graduates and members in good standing with the UAF Alumni Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting UAF and connecting its alumni. Candidates must be interested in a leadership and advocacy role in support of UAF, its alumni and the mission of higher education in Alaska.
UAFAA members in good standing will elect the directors in March 2021, with new board members beginning their three-year terms at the spring meeting on April 24.
If you know outstanding UAF alumni with vision, community involvement, energy and a commitment to excellence and collaboration, please share this opportunity. Contact the UAF alumni office at 474-7081 or email uaf-alumni@alaska.edu.
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

Thomas Farrugia, '17
Seat 11, Municipality of Anchorage; 2019 - 2022
2017 - PhD Fisheries
Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Coordinator, Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS)
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)

Doug Schrage ’85
Student Firefighter Chapter President
1985 - Fire Science

Scott Roselius, ’81
Hockey Chapter President
1981 - BA, Physical Education

Jeremy Vermilyea , ’92
Pacific Northwest Alumni Contact
1992 - BA, Journalism

Theresa Bakker
UAFAA Executive Director