UAF provost honored by circumpolar university

Submitted by Carla Browning
Phone: (907) 474-7778
09/13/06

University of the Arctic officials recently honored University of Alaska Fairbanks Provost Paul Reichardt for his contributions to the circumpolar organization, which includes more than 100 universities and other institutions.

UArctic Director of Administration Outi Snellman presented Reichardt with a ceramic arctic bird during a short ceremony at the Helge Ingstad Memorial Symposium on Arctic Change, held at UAF Sept. 8-9.

"We would like to celebrate Paul Reichardt’s contribution to the circumpolar academic community,"? Snellman said. "He has shown both vision and persistence in his unwavering support for UArctic."?

Reichardt was present for the original discussions at UAF in the late 1990s about forming the organization. The result of those discussions would be a "circumpolar academy, a university in the North, for the North, by the North."? On June 12, 2001, UArctic celebrated its launch with 200 people gathered in Rovaniemi, Finland. From there, UArctic grew quickly and the "university without walls"? graduated its first students in June 2006.

"I enjoyed having played a small role,"? Reichardt said. "I am honored by this recognition and wish the best for UArctic as it moves forward."? Reichardt is slated to retire at the end of this academic year.