Chancellor Dan White
Jan. 11, 2021

Dear UAF staff and faculty,

Welcome to a new semester and new year! As I look back to the welcome message I wrote at the start of 2020, I see that we were preparing for renewed work on strategic planning and preparing for our accreditation visit. COVID-19 was not yet in the public consciousness, let alone in our community. Since then we accomplished work on both strategic planning and accreditation, and pivoted, adjusted, learned, prepared and delivered education in the middle of the pandemic. I’m always proud of the work you each do at UAF, but this past year has made me especially honored to be part of Nanook Nation.

Next Monday we’ll take time off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in honor of Alaska civil rights. It is a day that celebrates all of the days we work to make UAF a place where everyone is welcomed and supported.

I am already looking forward to this year’s Blue and Gold Celebration on Feb. 27. We’ll be raising funds for the needs-based Nanook Commitment student scholarships. Now more than ever, student scholarships provide equitable access to education. You’ll hear more about the celebration in the coming weeks.

I hope your winter break was restful and that you are energized to see this new year off to a great start. While we will be keeping our eye on COVID-19 and adjusting and learning like last semester, I am hopeful that we can begin having more student activities and opportunities to engage in more in-person events.

Thanks for choosing UAF.

— Dan White, chancellor

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