June 28, 2024

Dear UAF students, faculty and staff,

I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Sergey Marchenko, a research associate professor and member of the Snow, Ice and Permafrost Group at the Geophysical Institute.

Marchenko first came to UAF in 2003 as a visiting research scholar from the Yakutsk Permafrost Institute in Russia and became a research associate professor in 2008. His research focused on the formation, distribution and evolution of permafrost in mountainous regions from the Quaternary Period to the present. He was a renowned expert in the study of climate and permafrost interactions worldwide. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with this loss, please don’t struggle alone. Free help is available.

For students, the Student Health and Counseling Center can provide support or counseling. Call 907-474-7043 to speak with someone, or, for more information, visit the student counseling services webpage. Employees are eligible for free counseling through the Employee Assistance Program. Please call 1-888-969-0155, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

— Dan White, chancellor