Ehrlander, Newman, Conner named 2016 Usibelli Award winners
December 2, 2016
Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
Mary Ehrlander, professor of history and director of the Arctic and northern studies program, received the teaching award; David Newman, professor of physics, received the research award; and Laura Conner, research assistant professor of science education, received the service award. All three will be honored at a reception Monday, Dec. 5.
Ehrlander, recipient of the teaching award, began her college career when she already had children of her own, an experience that shapes her now as a professor. Many of her former students wrote nomination letters attesting to her high academic standards coupled with support and encouragement.
“Dr. Ehrlander understood at once what was at stake for me in pursuing an advanced degree in terms of juggling this program with full-time employment and immersion in local family life. She is a hard worker with a rich family life, while being a brilliant speaker and intellectual, so she is a very strong role model for me," said Amy Russell, a former master's degree student.
Ehrlander received her bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in northern studies from UAF, and went on to earn a master's degree and a doctorate in government from the University of Virginia.
The research award is the second Usibelli Award for Newman, who won for teaching in 2015. Newman joined the UAF faculty in 1998 after working for five years as a Wigner Fellow and then research scientist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Newman’s research has made significant contributions to several questions in physics, including plasmas, fusion and chaos theory.
“Dr. Newman is an extraordinary … scientist who contributes breakthrough research to some of our society’s largest challenges like energy and globalization,” wrote his colleagues Renate Wackerbauer and Martin Truffer in their joint nomination letter. “He also has extraordinary skills in communicating science and research findings to all ages and educational backgrounds.”
Newman has a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate in physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Laura Carsten Conner won the service award for her work to encourage all age groups — but particularly middle-school girls — to learn about science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, or STEAM. In addition to many outreach activities, she directs the Changing Alaska Science Education program with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, through which educators learn how to teach STEAM.
“Thanks to Laura, a new generation of scientists is emerging from UAF who are not only able to do science, but to explain to others why what they do matters to everyone,” Christa Mulder, UAF professor of ecology, wrote in her nomination letter.
Conner has a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Colorado Boulder, two master’s degrees from Montana State University and the University of Washington, and a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Arizona.
The Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching, Research and Service Awards are considered among the university’s most prestigious awards. They represent UAF’s tripartite mission and are funded annually from a $600,000 endowment established by Usibelli Coal Mine in 1992.
Each year, a committee that includes members from the faculty, the student body and a member of the UA Foundation Board of Trustees evaluates the nominees. Each winner receives a cash award of $10,000.