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Chancellor Dan White

Friday Focus: Keeping our eye on UAF impact

The first rule when riding a bike is to look where you're going. Aim your gaze on a spot down the path and let that guide you to where you want to go. If you are looking off to your right into the woods, then that is exactly where you will find yourself. Worse, if you get distracted by what dashed off the road to your left, a swerve across the lane of oncoming traffic could lead you into an even more dangerous situation. If you keep your eyes on the ground just in front of the bike, be prepared to find yourself there quickly. The same principle applies to skiing, snowmachining, and yes, to your job and mine. At UAF, our strategic goals lie ahead of us on our path and guide decision-making and priorities. Continue reading this week's Friday Focus.


Minnie Naylor, the director for the UAF Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue, is the rural staff spotlight for December 2023.

Rural Staff Spotlight: Minnie Naylor

Minnie Naylor serves as the director for the UAF Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue. Minnie's work and presence as a supportive, upbeat, and caring UAF rural staff member and her positive attitude and unwavering support have created a nurturing and empowering environment at the campus. Learn more about the impact she has on the Chukchi Campus.


UAF in the News

Student stress relief? It's a doggone popular therapy plan (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Annual Arctic Report Card focuses on Indigenous knowledge and resilience after warmest summer on record (Anchorage Daily News)

Petroleum engineering and basketball: Mawich Kachjaani’s journey from South Sudan to Alaska (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Complex, volatile coast makes preparing for tsunamis tough in Alaska (Ars Technica)

Alaska Native leaders bring light to state-specific challenges in federal MMIP report (Alaska Beacon)

Science Shorts: Farming on permafrost; inspiring expeditions; volcanic tremors (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

What's happening

Deadlines and reminders


Staff Alliance offers Spring '24 fee support

The UA Staff Alliance is pleased to once again offer a class fee scholarship for UA classes taken by staff that directly support their career or professional development. The scholarship, good for the 2024 spring semester, is for up to $250 per employee. Learn more on how to apply for the spring fee support.


Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship Program class of 2023–2024. Photo by Molly Cain/Alaska Sea GrantApply for Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship

The Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship matches highly motivated graduate students and recent graduates with hosts in Alaska-based organizations for year-long paid fellowships. Applications are open now for both hosts and students for the fellowship starting in 2024. Learn more, including how to apply.


Spawning chum salmon

Arctic Report Card highlights salmon, local observers

Eleven University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists contributed as authors to the 18th Arctic Report Card released Dec. 12, 2023. The report card, produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, documents how warming air, ocean and land affect people and ecosystems. Learn more about this year's Arctic Report Card.


About Cornerstone

The Cornerstone employee newsletter is produced by University Relations and emailed to all UAF staff and faculty. You can submit news items here.

 

UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination/.