Short takes: People and programs at UAF

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: (907) 474-7902
02/09/07

Toopetlook named Rural Student Services director

Debbie Toopetlook has been named director of Rural Student Services at the University of Alaska Fairbanks after serving as interim director since September 2006. Toopetlook replaces JoAnn Ducharme, who is now the associate dean for UAF’s College of Rural and Community Development. RSS, an academic advising department housed within CRCD, helps rural students from around the state navigate college life.

Toopetlook is from Anaktuvuk Pass and earned two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree from UAF in 1997, 2000 and 2005, respectively. She has extensive experience in Inupiat grammar, language, history and cultural activities. She previously worked as a care coordinator with the Fairbanks Native Association’s Ch’eghutsen’ program.

Drygas to serve as senior development officer

Emily Drygas has been named senior development officer at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Drygas previously served four years as the development director at the UA Museum of the North. In her new position, she’ll be working with private foundations, corporations and individuals on the development of strategic gifts to the university and will continue to work closely with museum donors. She will begin her new position March 5.

Drygas received her bachelor’s degree in Japanese studies and travel industry management from UAF in 1997 and has worked as the membership manager for the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau and marketing manager for Alaska Riverways. She is currently working on her master’s degree in communication.

Mathematics faculty recognized for research

Several University of Alaska Fairbanks mathematics faculty members have been recognized for their research expertise with invitations to visit two prestigious mathematical institutions. Elizabeth Allman and John Rhodes, who work in the areas of mathematical biology and algebraic statistics, are spending a semester at the Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus. The institute, established in 1982 by the National Science Foundation, fosters interdisciplinary research, linking mathematics to other disciplines and industry, and aims to expand and strengthen the talent base.

Allman and Sergei Avdonin will be visiting fellows at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Cambridge. Avdonin will visit in March 2007 and participate in the program, "Analysis on Graphs and its Applications."? Allman has been invited to participate in the fall semester program in phylogenetics.

Georgeson Botanical Garden honored

The Georgeson Botanical Garden at the University of Alaska Fairbanks was recently named an Exemplary Education Award Winner by All-American Selections, a nonprofit organization that tests new flower and vegetable varieties for home gardening. Georgeson Botanical Garden is one of more than 180 display gardens in North America. These gardens grow AAS winners for the public to view, as well as promote gardening and provide educational programs and events. Georgeson received the honor in recognition of displays related to the Fairbanks Experiment Farm’s centennial celebration.

Kleinfeld book to become Dutch television program

A book by Judith Kleinfeld, a professor in UAF’s College of Liberal Arts, is slated to be the foundation for a Dutch television program being created by VPRO Television in the Netherlands. The book, "Go For It: Finding Your Own Frontier,"? features case studies of independent women who have come to Alaska. Kleinfeld helped write the script for the program and was filmed reading from her book and speaking about her research.

Contact: Marmian Grimes, public information officer at (907) 474-7902 or e-mail marmian.grimes@uaf.edu for more information.

Note to editors: Please check with Marmian Grimes for photo availability.