Class notes and in memoriam

Francis “Frank” Flavin ’67 has a new novel, “The Muse in a Time of Madness.” The book, available on Amazon, is the first in Flavin’s “Alyeska Trilogy.” The tale, which begins in Russia, follows survivors of the sack of Novgorod in 1570 as they flee first to the Urals and eventually Alaska. The second two novels in the trilogy are underway.

Frank also has over 80 works of poetry, fiction and nonfiction in publication and over 20 literary awards for his work.

After serving as student body president and graduating from the then-University of Alaska, Frank became Alaska’s first ombudsman and the executive director of the Alaska Judicial Conduct Commission. Turning from law to education, Frank was a Cornell University Cooperative Extension Service representative in New York and then the service’s Northern Area director at the University of Nevada.

Originally, from rural upstate New York, Frank has lived in Alaska, Colorado, Nevada and the Philippines. His writing draws upon his experiences as an educator, hockey player, fish and game field worker, public interest lawyer, governmental investigator and adventurer on four continents. He has been a successful advocate for civil and Indigenous rights.

His written work has been published nationally and internationally in Poetry Quarterly, Beyond Words Literary Magazine, Inwood Indiana, Blueline, Pacific Review, Moonstone Arts Center, La Piccioletta Barca, Three Line Poetry, The Closed Eye Open, Tempered Runes and The Plentitudes, among others. He won the 2021 Poetry Quarterly Rebecca Lard Award and has received recognition in the humor and flash fiction (2), short story (2), novel excerpt (3), creative nonfiction and personal essay categories in the Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, the social impact category of the Chicagoland Poetry Contest, the Partisan Press Working People’s Poetry Competition (winner) and the personal essay and rhymed poetry categories of the 2020 Writer’s Digest awards.

Clay Koplin ’92 and Sam Enoka ’95 are featured in the August 2024 issue of Alaska Business magazine.

Greensparc, an edge computing company led by Sam, partnered with Hewlett Packard Enterprise in November 2023 to create a small but powerful data center at the Cordova Electric Cooperative’s Humpback Creek hydroelectric plant.

Clay is the electric cooperative’s CEO.

Katie Spellman ’08, ’15 has been named the 2024 Usibelli Distinguished Service Award recipient.

The Usibelli Awards are among UAF’s most prestigious awards. They are funded annually from an endowment that Usibelli Coal Mine established in 1992. The recipients receive a cash award of $10,000.

Katie is an ecologist and educator known for making science accessible, relatable and inclusive to all people. Born and raised in Fairbanks, she has devoted her career to sharing her expertise and passion for science with the people most affected by the changing climate: Indigenous communities and children.

Katie has volunteered hundreds of hours mentoring K-12 students’ research, organizing science fairs and co-creating citizen science projects to address pressing local issues. Two example projects, Fresh Eyes on Ice and Winterberry, engage Alaska youths in researching native berry species and freshwater ice conditions to improve health and well-being, food security and safety.

Katie received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. She holds a master’s in biology and a Ph.D. in biological sciences from UAF, where she did her postdoctoral fellowship in education and outreach.

Ashleigh Strange ’16 was appointed the executive director for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs in Pennsylvania. The commission recommends policies and legislation to the governor and gives the communities they represent a voice in state government.

“It’s an honor to work alongside such passionate commissioners who strive to build a commonwealth where everyone can thrive,” Ashleigh said. “The Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs acts as a conduit between the LGBTQ community and our state government — and I am proud to be serving as executive director. Together, we will continue working to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have a seat at the table and can see themselves and their stories reflected in state government.”

Ashleigh previously worked as communications director for Pennsylvania Stands Up and Make the Road Pennsylvania. They graduated from UAF with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. They serve as board chair on the PA Stands Up Institute board and vice chair of the Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates Board. They reside in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with their partner, Chloe; cat, Nike; and several failing plants

Rylan Kissell ’24, a UAF rifle standout, made his Olympic debut at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, competing in the men’s 10-meter air rifle, mixed team air rifle and 50m smallbore rifle events.

In fall 2024, Kissell will begin a new job as assistant rifle coach at the United States Military Academy West Point.

During his time at UAF, Kissell was a seven-time All-American, the 2023 individual air rifle champion, a member of the 2023 NCAA Rifle Championship team and the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association’s Most Valuable Shooter awardee. He was also the 2022 CRCA Shooter of the Year and wrapped up his career with the Nanooks with four 600s in air rifle, including the first-ever perfect score at the 2023 NCAA Rifle Championships.