Past award recipients | Usibelli Awards

2024

Brandon Boylan, teaching
William Simpson, research
Katie Spellman, service

Brandon Boylan

2024 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

In numerous letters supporting his nomination, Boylan’s colleagues and students describe him as a model scholar-educator who upholds rigorous academic standards while offering generous encouragement and support to graduate and undergraduate students and colleagues.

Boylan’s expertise includes international relations and security, political violence, ethnic conflict, separatist movements, and Arctic politics and security. He joined UAF’s Department of Political Science, which he currently chairs, in 2013, and he has served as director of Arctic and Northern studies since 2020. Boylan co-founded the Model Arctic Council, an academic program that involves students from around the circumpolar North in collaborative learning exercises related to Arctic challenges and concerns.

Boylan holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania; a master’s in international studies from the University of Limerick in Ireland; a master’s of business administration from UAF; and a doctoral degree in international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

William R. Simpson

2024 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

Simpson is an environmental chemist known for his pioneering research into how the cold and dark winter climate of the Arctic affects the atmospheric processing of pollution. To support this work, he has developed novel spectroscopic instruments to measure trace gases and reactive radicals. He also conducts field experiments into Arctic ozone depletion events.

Simpson is the principal investigator for the Alaskan Layered Pollution and Chemical Analysis project, or ALPACA. This groundbreaking collaboration brought together scientists, public servants and community members to investigate how air pollution behaves in Fairbanks’ winter. In letters of support, Simpson’s colleagues noted that the combination of scientific research with community outreach and education produced results with significant implications for public health and policy in urban environments across the Arctic.

Simpson joined the faculty at UAF in 1997. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a mathematics minor from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Stanford University.

Katie Spellman

2024 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

Spellman is an ecologist and educator known for making science accessible, relatable and inclusive to all people. Born and raised in Fairbanks, she has devoted her career to sharing her expertise and passion for science with the people most affected by the changing climate: Indigenous communities and children.

Spellman has volunteered hundreds of hours mentoring K-12 students’ research, organizing science fairs and co-creating citizen science projects to address pressing local issues. Two example projects, Fresh Eyes on Ice and Winterberry, engage Alaska youths in researching native berry species and freshwater ice conditions to improve health and well-being, food security and safety.

Spellman received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. She holds a master’s in biology and a Ph.D. in biological sciences from UAF, where she did her postdoctoral fellowship in education and outreach.

2023

Dr. Amy Cooper

2023 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Dr. Amy Cooper has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2007; and, as a teacher of accounting, she receives tremendous reviews from students, who cite her creative, enthusiastic class presentations, her attention to individual students and her generous mentoring of student organizations and activities; and

WHEREAS Dr. Cooper, after earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, spent several years working at private firms; and she began teaching at UAF as an adjunct instructor before joining the faculty in 2009; and she completed her doctorate in business administration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in May 2023; and

WHEREAS Dr. Cooper has advised both the student accounting organization and its volunteer income tax assistance program; and she helped create an annual student seminar to promote professional etiquette; and she has led the Alaska Society of CPAs’ effort to create a leadership academy that connects students to the profession;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Amy Cooper; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. Amy Cooper, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this eleventh day of May, 2023.

Dr. Stefanie Ickert-Bond

2023 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. Stefanie Ickert-Bond has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2006; and her prolific research has earned her an international reputation; and, as curator of the University of Alaska Museum of the North’s herbarium, she has been a global leader in the digitization of botanical data and images; and

WHEREAS Dr. Ickert-Bond earned her doctorate from Arizona State University in 2003 and conducted research and taught before joining UAF’s faculty; and she has secured $2.7 million in grants to support her and her students’ research; and she has produced 89 journal papers; and

WHEREAS Dr. Ickert-Bond’s research, which integrates molecular approaches with field studies, morphology, anatomy and paleobotany, identifies evolutionary relationships and ancient migration patterns within plant groups, information that, among other benefits, is essential for the ecological studies needed for management of Alaska’s resources;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Stefanie Eckert-Bond; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Stefanie Ickert-Bond, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this eleventh day of May, 2023.

Mr. John George

2023 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Mr. John George has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2008; and he has greatly expanded and improved the quality of the UAF Community and Technical College’s fire science program, benefiting not only its students but also Fairbanks and other communities across Alaska and beyond; and

WHEREAS Mr. George has worked in fire services for 32 years; and he earned an associate degree in municipal fire protection and a bachelor’s in education from UAF; and he is pursuing a master’s in security and disaster management; and

WHEREAS Mr. George, as head of the fire science program, created a system to place student firefighters at volunteer departments and significantly enhanced student recruiting, all of which alleviated severe local station staffing shortages; and he embedded essential training on mental health care, suicide prevention and cancer prevention into the fire program’s curriculum; and, among many other volunteer activities, he serves as a battalion chief at Chena-Goldstream Fire & Rescue;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mr. John George; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in service demonstrated by Mr. John George, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this eleventh day of May, 2023.

2022

Dr. Margaret Darrow

2022 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Dr. Margaret Darrow has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2008; and, as a teacher of geological engineering, she receives superlative reviews from students for leading unforgettable field trips, for her personalized attention to student needs and for her high standards for written materials; and

WHEREAS Dr. Darrow, after earning her bachelor's degree in geology at the University of Washington, spent almost a decade teaching, both as a secondary teacher in rural Alaska and as a UAF graduate assistant while earning a master's in geology and a bachelor's in geological engineering; and she worked as a geotechnical engineering assistant for the State of Alaska while earning her doctorate at UAF; and

WHEREAS Dr. Darrow not only has been the principal advisor for thirteen master's students but also has guided nearly two dozen undergraduate students in the conduct of high-quality research;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Margaret Darrow; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. Margaret Darrow, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this twenty-ninth day of April, 2022.

Dr. Uma Bhatt

2022 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. Uma Bhatt has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1998; and her multifaceted investigations have made her an international leader in climate research; and

WHEREAS Dr. Bhatt earned bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering and Russian from the University of Pittsburgh and master's and doctorate degrees in atmospheric sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and at UAF, during just the past five years, she has published 57 peer-reviewed papers while leading or co-leading research projects with grant funding of nearly $24 million; and

WHEREAS Dr. Bhatt's wide-ranging efforts include creation of high-resolution climate data across Alaska, development of methods to predict sea ice extent, explanation of changes in tundra vegetation and creation of methods to seasonally forecast wildland fire conditions, all of which contribute knowledge useful to scientists, resource managers and industries;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Uma Bhatt; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Uma Bhatt, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this twenty-ninth day of April, 2022.

Dr. M. Syndonia Bret-Harte

2022 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Dr. M. Syndonia Bret-Harte has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1998 and has been a key driver in the success of the UAF Institute of Arctic Biology's Toolik Field Station, now recognized as a world-class facility serving Arctic scientists; and

WHEREAS Dr. Bret-Harte earned her doctorate in biology at Stanford University; and at UAF she has been a highly productive scientist and faculty member while serving as Toolik's associate science director and science co-director; and

WHEREAS Dr. Bret-Harte has contributed to every major decision about Toolik Field Station for the past two decades, during which the station attracted $50 million in U.S. and European funding; has enthusiastically conveyed the station's importance for Arctic science to policymakers, agency leaders and the public; and has served as a reviewer for multiple academic journals and science initiatives, and on The Nature Conservancy's Alaska chapter board;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. M. Syndonia Bret-Harte; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in service demonstrated by Dr. M. Syndonia Bret-Harte, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this twenty-ninth day of April, 2022.

2021

2021 Usibelli award winners

Dr. Denise Thorsen

2021 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Dr. Denise Thorsen has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2001; and, as a teacher of electrical engineering, she draws superb reviews from students, who appreciate her focus on real-world applications, her incorporation of peer mentoring and her informal encouragement of their individual successes; and

WHEREAS Dr. Thorsen started her career in the aerospace industry before earning her graduate degrees and spending several years as a research scientist; and, as a UAF professor, she has been highly successful in using an innovative “flipped” teaching method where classes focus on problem-solving; and

WHEREAS Dr. Thorsen directs the Space Systems Engineering Program, through which she has helped students create small satellites, develop communication technologies and create ideas for future space missions; and her students in the program have gone on to great career successes;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Denise Thorsen; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. Denise Thorsen, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of February 27, 2021.

Dr. Donald “Skip” Walker

2021 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. Donald “Skip” Walker has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1999; and his voluminous and much-cited research has made him the world's leading expert on Arctic vegetation and its role in ecosystems; and

WHEREAS Dr. Walker came to Alaska as a oil field roustabout in 1969, began his graduate research on the North Slope in 1972 and has studied Arctic vegetation ever since; and, after coming to UAF, he established the Alaska Geobotany Center, which researches and maps Arctic vegetation and its relationships with geophysical processes; and

WHEREAS Dr. Walker's highly collaborative research has helped illuminate how Arctic vegetation interacts with permafrost, snow, sea ice and disturbances such as roads and petroleum development; and he has helped create international systems to monitor and map vegetation and soils across the circumpolar Arctic;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Donald “Skip” Walker; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Donald “Skip” Walker, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this day of February 27, 2021.

Dr. Eduard Zilberkant

2021 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Dr. Eduard Zilberkant has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1997; and, through his multiple roles, he has sustained the presentation of exceptional musical performances in Fairbanks and across Alaska; and

WHEREAS Dr. Zilberkant, whose family completed a risky emigration from Russia to the United States in the 1970s, earned his doctorate in piano performance and taught at a number of universities before joining UAF's faculty; and, in addition to teaching, he not only serves as music director and conductor of the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and Arctic Chamber Orchestra but also performs internationally; and

WHEREAS Dr. Zilberkant enthusiastically nurtures local musicians and attracts prestigious guest artists, sustaining the symphony and ensuring its status as one of the nation's top all-volunteer ensembles; and he has twice brought an international e-piano competition to Fairbanks;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Eduard Zilberkant; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in service demonstrated by Dr. Eduard Zilberkant, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this day of February 27, 2021.

2020

2020 Usibelli award winners

Dr. Diane McEachern

2020 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Dr. Diane McEachern has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2004; and, as a teacher of rural human services, her clarity of instruction and incorporation of Indigenous perspectives earns the deep appreciation of her students; and

WHEREAS Dr. McEachern joined the Lower Kuskokwim School District in 1998 as a social worker, serving communities throughout western Alaska; and, as a UAF faculty member and program head at the Kuskokwim Campus, she has taught thirty-two courses in social work and human services, led behavioral health camps for teens, and participated in two large community-based research projects; and

WHEREAS Dr. McEachern teaches groups of primarily Indigenous students who seek to help their communities; and her classes feature hands-on work, small groups, discussion of students' own experiences and the participation of Indigenous elders;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Diane McEachern; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. Diane McEachern, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of February 8, 2020.

Dr. Katrin Iken

2020 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. Katrin Iken has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2002; and her prolific research has established her as a leading authority in the study of high-latitude benthic ecology; and

WHEREAS Dr. Iken began working in the early 1990s in both Arctic and Antarctic waters, where she has since completed almost 40 marine research expeditions; and she has published more than one hundred peer-reviewed papers and helped secure more than $18 million in funding while also guiding multiple graduate students; and

WHEREAS Dr. Iken's studies have illuminated numerous features of northern and southern marine ecosystems, particularly the food webs that support them; and she and her students have recently established the importance of terrestrial material washed into northern oceans as a food source for benthic organisms; and she leads efforts to establish long-term monitoring projects that track northern marine biodiversity;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Katrin Iken; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Katrin Iken, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this day of February 8, 2020.

Dr. Jaunelle Celaire

2020 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Dr. Jaunelle Celaire has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2003; and, as a professor of voice, her numerous activities have enriched communities across the state; and

WHEREAS Dr. Celaire, after earning her doctorate in Michigan, wholeheartedly joined the Fairbanks musical arts community; and she has presented or participated in dozens of recitals, concerts, productions and competitions not only in Fairbanks but across the globe, all while leading the Choir of the North, teaching, providing private instruction and volunteering on multiple fronts; and

WHEREAS some of Dr. Celaire's activities include organizing an annual concert by local school music teachers, adjudicating state high school competitions, directing high school honor choirs across the state, teaching opera and gospel choir at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, and leading the UAF Summer Music Academy's voice and choral program;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Jaunelle Celaire; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in service demonstrated by Dr. Jaunelle Celaire, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this day of February 8, 2020.

2019

2019 Usibelli award winners

Mr. Charles Mason

2019 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Mr. Charles Mason has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1990; and his energy, expertise, enthusiasm and generosity are greatly appreciated by his students; and

WHEREAS Mr. Mason, after earning a science degree, began his career in the 1980s as an award-winning newspaper and freelance photographer locally and nationally; and, as a UAF journalism and art faculty member, he led the transition from film to digital photography, created bachelor's and master's degree programs in fine art photography, and recently developed exemplary online classes; and

WHEREAS Mr. Mason's students describe him as an avid learner who constantly challenges himself; and he leads fast-paced, playful classes where he gives helpful criticism and encourages students to offer and accept the same; and he is generous with his time and expertise, while tailoring his instruction to each student's level;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Charles Mason; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Mr. Charles Mason, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of April 29, 2019.

Dr. Katey Walter Anthony

2019 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. Katey Walter Anthony has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2007; and her research on the climate feedback effects of carbon gases released from thawing permafrost has made her a world leader in the field; and

WHEREAS Dr. Walter Anthony, who first began studying in Russia in the early 1990s as a high school student, completed her doctorate at UAF on methane emissions in Siberian thermokarst lakes, a topic that she has continued to investigate as a research faculty member at the Institute of Northern Engineering; and

WHEREAS Dr. Walter Anthony's studies of the permafrost carbon feedback to climate warming have influenced climate science worldwide; and she has had an exceptionally high success rate in funding proposals and publishing the results; and

she is an outstanding science ambassador, working locally and nationally with media, educators and government leaders;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Katey Walter Anthony; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Katey Walter Anthony, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this day of April 29, 2019.

Dr. Michael West

2019 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Dr. Michael West has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2004; and he has used his scientific expertise to advocate in Alaska and across the nation for better responses to seismic and volcanic hazards; and

WHEREAS Dr. West, after earning his doctorate at Columbia University in 2001, became a highly productive researcher at UAF, studying earthquakes and volcanoes in Alaska and other regions; and

WHEREAS Dr. West, who was named state seismologist and Alaska Earthquake Center director in 2012, has focused his recent work on service; and he promoted passage of three major congressional acts and successfully advocated policy changes to state leaders; and he prioritized public engagement through news interviews, social media, tours and other outreach; and he initiated better coordination between Alaska's earthquake responders;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Michael West; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in service demonstrated by Dr. Michael West, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this day of April 29, 2019.

2018

2018 Usibelli award winners

Patty Martinez Meritt

2018 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Ms. Patty Martinez Meritt has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1986; and is beloved by her students for her unstinting and personalized support of their individual academic and professional goals, and for inspiring them to excellence through her own demonstration of commitment to the field of early childhood education; and

WHEREAS Ms. Meritt been instrumental in expanding the type and scope of education-related offerings at the University, including professional development projects, instructional videos, community workshops and a bachelor's degree program; and

WHEREAS Ms. Meritt has pursued new teaching avenues as technological advances became available, including developing the first correspondence and web-based classes for early childhood education, thereby expanding students' educational opportunities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Ms. Patty Martinez Meritt; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Ms. Patty Martinez Meritt, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of May 7, 2018.

Dr. Matthew Wooller

2018 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. Matthew Wooller has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2002; and has been an extremely productive and innovative research scientist, especially regarding isotope techniques in environmental and ecological studies, with a remarkable number of publications in peer-reviewed journals; and

WHEREAS Dr. Wooller has been extremely successful in securing important grants, including one from the National Science Foundation that now provides Alaska with a technology previously unavailable in the State; and

WHEREAS Dr. Wooller excels in teaching students modern methods and applications of stable isotope analysis; and is greatly admired by both colleagues and students for his leadership, collegiality and professionalism;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Matthew Wooller; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Matthew Wooller, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this day of May 7, 2018.

Mr. Charles N. Dexter

2018 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Mr. Charles N. Dexter has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1985; and has used his enthusiasm and creativity to forge new programs and partnerships that have expanded the educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for countless Alaskans; and

WHEREAS Mr. Dexter was instrumental in the development of a dual high school and college enrollment program, helping to raise many thousands of dollars to help defray the cost to students; and

WHEREAS Mr. Dexter is respected in the community for his blend of business acumen and customer service focus that he employs to help businesses and nonprofit organizations achieve success and recognition; and is well-known in the Interior for his long-running newspaper columns on service and civic engagement;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Charles N. Dexter; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in service demonstrated by Mr. Charles N. Dexter, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this day of May 7, 2018.

2017

2017 award recipients

Dr. Sarah J. Fowell

2017 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Dr. Sarah J. Fowell has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1997; and brings creativity and richness to her classroom by skillfully employing active learning in her courses; and expects her students to think critically but does so in a way that encourages collaboration and mutual respect; and

WHEREAS Dr. Fowell, despite the challenging nature of her classes, receives consistently high ratings in student evaluations; and has also received, among several other honors, the College of Natural Science and Mathematics Outstanding Teaching Award and the Rural Student Services Dennis Demmert Appreciation and Recognition Award; and

WHEREAS Dr. Fowell's leadership includes service as Department Chair of the Department of Geosciences and as Director of the GeoFORCE program, which encourages rural Alaska high school students to pursue college degrees in the STEM fields;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Sarah J. Fowell; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. Sarah J. Fowell, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of May 1, 2017.

Dr. Eugénie Susanne Euskirchen

2017 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. Eugénie Euskirchen has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2004; and is a highly sought-after collaborator for complex, international studies on how Arctic regions may influence global climate change; and

WHEREAS Dr. Euskirchen's expertise in modeling effects of changes in climate on Arctic and boreal terrestrial ecosystems, and how these effects on ecosystems may feed back to influence the global climate system, has put the University at the forefront of ecosystem modeling; and her field measurements of eddy covariance have made her an international leader in that area, further enhancing the University's reputation; and

WHEREAS Dr. Euskirchen has been extremely successful in publishing papers in prestigious journals and in receiving highly competitive grants; and she has mentored graduate students and postdoctoral associates in interdisciplinary climate research;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Eugénie Susanne Euskirchen; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Eugénie Susanne Euskirchen, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this day of May 1, 2017.

Dr. Erin C. Pettit

2017 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Dr. Erin C. Pettit has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2008; and is an outstanding science researcher with a deep and abiding commitment to equity in the sciences and to mentoring the next generation of researchers; and

WHEREAS Dr. Pettit developed the highly regarded Girls on Ice program, an annual field research experience through which teenage girls learn about glaciers, glaciology and science in general, but perhaps most profoundly, learn about themselves and their potential for future intellectual pursuits; and

WHEREAS Dr. Pettit has made a difference by explaining the climate-related changes in the polar regions to the general public; and her combined talents as an excellent researcher in her own right and as an outreach expert and scientific community leader resulted in her being named a National Geographic Society Emerging Explorer;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Erin C. Pettit; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in service demonstrated by Dr. Erin C. Pettit, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this day of May 1, 2017.

2016

2016 award recipients

Dr. Mary F. Ehrlander

2016 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Dr. Mary F. Ehrlander has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2001; and is an exemplary teacher whose mentorship has been instrumental in the successful completion of many students' degrees; and

WHEREAS Dr. Ehrlander's students greatly respect and appreciate her rigorous intellectual standards, expertise in both subject matter and academic protocols, and her unwavering support and judicious guidance; and

WHEREAS Dr. Ehrlander's genuine devotion to the personal and professional development of her students inspires them to emulate her through leadership, team building and effective collaboration in their own fields, to the betterment of all;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Mary F. Ehrlander; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. Mary F. Ehrlander, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of December 5, 2016.

Dr. David E. Newman

2016 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. David E. Newman has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1998; and is a world-class physicist who has made seminal contributions to plasma physics, fusion plasmas and complex systems dynamics; and

WHEREAS Dr. Newman's exceptional work outside his primary field has far-reaching implications for a range of vital challenges, including supercomputers and global energy networks; and

WHEREAS Dr. Newman complements his exceptional research by communicating it effectively and widely, such that he was also awarded the Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award in 2015; and is internationally recognized for his leadership in research;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. David E. Newman; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. David E. Newman, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this day of December 5, 2016.

Dr. Laura Diane Carsten Conner

2016 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Dr. Laura Diane Carsten Conner has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2007; and is a tireless proponent of the importance of learning science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics — STEAM — in all age groups, but especially among middle-school girls; and

WHEREAS Dr. Conner's positive attitude, structured and fair approach, attention to detail, emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity have made her a respected and sought-after STEAM trainer for teachers and parents; and

WHEREAS Dr. Conner has dedicated her career to engaging students in science and in bridging the gaps between K-12 and college, and between the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the local community;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Laura Diane Carsten Conner; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in service demonstrated by Dr. Laura Diane Carsten Conner, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this day of December 5, 2016.

2015

2015 award recipients

David Newman, teaching
Hajo Eicken, research
Pat Holloway, service

Dr. David E. Newman

2015 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Dr. David E. Newman has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1998; and has long demonstrated creativity in, enthusiasm for and dedication to student learning, earning him great respect and high regard from his students and making him a highly sought-after advisor; and

WHEREAS Dr. Newman has taught across the spectrum of the physics curriculum, from undergraduate courses for nonmajors to highly specialized graduate courses and seminars; and

WHEREAS Dr. Newman has extended his educational mission beyond the University, presenting in public forums and teaching in lifelong learning settings; and whose excellence in education led to his being named a Fellow of the American Physical Society;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. David E. Newman; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. David E. Newman, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of November 19, 2015.

Dr. Hajo Eicken

2015 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. Hajo Eicken has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1998, becoming an international leader in the study of sea ice and its role in the climate system; and has been instrumental in helping improve sea ice prediction and information sharing, and international coordination of research efforts; and

WHEREAS Dr. Eicken's research has expanded and embraced other pertinent and related topics, including oil in ice, sea ice hazards, impacts of sea ice change, environmental security in changing maritime environments, and synthesis of local and traditional knowledge in sea-ice research; and

WHEREAS Dr. Eicken's research, interdisciplinary approach and integration of indigenous knowledge with Western scientific practice have made him one of the most respected and sought-after sea-ice experts throughout Alaska and the world;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Hajo Eicken; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Hajo Eicken, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this day of November 19, 2015.

Dr. Patricia S. Holloway

2015 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Dr. Patricia S. Holloway has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1984; and has devoted herself to the study of horticulture in the State of Alaska and its real and potential applications to private and professional growers; and

WHEREAS Dr. Holloway has made her research relevant to Alaska gardeners, sharing her findings and expertise on plants and horticulture with commercial producers and home gardeners alike; and has dedicated tremendous time to providing presentations and guidance to garden clubs, nascent producers and the generally curious; and

WHEREAS Dr. Holloway has been the driving force behind the University's beloved and acclaimed Georgeson Botanical Garden; and, as the first to recognize the commercial opportunities of the peony industry in Alaska, has been instrumental in helping develop the now-burgeoning field;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Patricia S. Holloway; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in public service demonstrated by Dr. Patricia S. Holloway, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this day of November 19, 2015.

2014

2014 award recipients

Joe Usibelli, far left, joins Chancellor Brian Rogers at right, in a photo this evening at the University of Alaska Museum of the North with the 2014 Usibelli Award Winners. UAF faculty members Roger Ruess was honored for his research efforts, Elena Sparrow for her outstanding service, and Joseph Thompson for exemplary teaching.

Elena Sparrow, service
Roger Ruess, research
Joseph Thompson, teaching

Dr. Elena Sparrow

2014 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award

WHEREAS Dr. Elena Sparrow has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1985; and has become an internationally recognized leader in efforts to bring science alive for primary and secondary school students and their teachers; and has creatively engaged these students and teachers through methods that give their imaginations room to explore; and

WHEREAS Dr. Sparrow, as education and outreach director at UAF's International Arctic Research Center, has created multiple bridges to local classrooms; and has been a pioneering force in creating a way for students in Alaska and worldwide to collect research-quality environmental data; and has been an exemplary volunteer at regional and state science fairs; and

WHEREAS Dr. Sparrow, a soil microbiologist, has successfully encouraged fellow scientists to share their knowledge, bringing her expertise in this field to conferences across the world;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Elena Sparrow; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in public service demonstrated by Dr. Elena Sparrow, bestows upon her the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this day of May 6, 2014.

Dr. Roger Ruess

2014 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award

WHEREAS Dr. Roger Ruess has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1989, becoming an international leader in ecosystem science and boreal forest ecology; and has published more than ninety papers in top academic journals, establishing one of the highest publication rates in the College of Natural Science and Mathematics; and

WHEREAS Dr. Ruess has uncovered details of the carbon and nitrogen cycles in boreal forests, especially how alder trees, which fix nitrogen in the soil with the aid of bacteria and fungi, can both affect and adapt to diverse environments; and has recently extended his research to investigate how insect outbreaks could disrupt the nitrogen supply in salmon streams; and

WHEREAS Dr. Ruess leads the Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research program, where he is principal investigator in a multidisciplinary effort to study and model the effects of climate change and how they could affect Alaska's rural communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Roger Ruess; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Roger Ruess, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this day of May 6, 2014.

Dr. Joseph C. Thompson

2014 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award

WHEREAS Dr. Joseph C. Thompson has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1999; and has proved himself an inspiring teacher who applies his own creative methods and research materials to electrify his philosophy and humanities courses; and

WHEREAS Dr. Thompson has transformed courses into stimulating, engaging explorations lauded by students; and has developed concise methods of presenting material, with high but fair expectations for students; and has researched his subject matter across the globe, collecting a library of material that he weaves into his constantly updated lectures; and

WHEREAS Dr. Thompson has taught classes and lectured across many disciplines; has shared generously his teaching methods; and has not only advised the student Socratic Society but also participated in its events as an orator and debater;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Joseph C. Thompson; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. Joseph C. Thompson, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of May 6, 2014.

2013

2013 award recipients

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty, and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Jonathan Rosenberg; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. Jonathan Rosenberg, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of May 6, 2013.

2012

2012 award recipients

The 2012 Emil Usibelli Award winners are (left to right) Kenji Yoshikawa for Distinguished Service, Debendra Das for Distinguished Teaching and Sergei Avdonin for Distinguished Research.

Teaching

Dr. Debendra K. Das

WHEREAS Dr. Debendra K. Das has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1984. His teaching contributions to the University and to engineering students in particular stand out among his peers; and

WHEREAS Dr. Das' contributions in the area of student mentoring have been extraordinary. He has included undergraduate and graduate students in his research and has an impressive record of publishing work with his students. His effectiveness as an advisor has been recognized with awards from the University and from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; and

WHEREAS in his twenty-eight years of service to UAF, Dr. Das has taught more than one hundred classes, and has developed new courses to meet the needs of both students and industry. He has received exceptionally high scores in his student evaluations at both the undergraduate and the graduate level;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Debendra K. Das; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in teaching demonstrated by Dr. Debendra K. Das, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award on this day of May 8, 2012.

Research

Dr. Sergei Avdonin

WHEREAS Dr. Sergei Avdonin has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 2001. His mathematical research activity with the University has been exceptional; and

WHEREAS Dr. Avdonin has built a long and distinguished career in many different research areas in mathematics. His international reputation has enhanced UAF's stature in mathematics and helped the Department of Mathematics and Statistics focus more clearly on its research mission. His extensive publication record is highly impressive; and

WHEREAS Dr. Avdonin's current research is on mathematical studies for glaciology. He has developed new methods that offer a major step towards predictive glacier models, which are important in the study of glacier-climate interaction, dating of ice cores, and assessment of natural hazards. He has collaborated with mathematicians, scientists and engineers around the world in developing his methods;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Sergei Avdonin; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in research demonstrated by Dr. Sergei Avdonin, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award on this day of May 8, 2012.

Service

Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa

WHEREAS Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa has served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction since 1999. He has launched an extraordinary educational outreach effort directed towards teachers and students in rural Alaska, Canada, Russia and other countries; and

WHEREAS Dr. Yoshikawa has established a network of one hundred sixty-five K - 12 schools to characterize and monitor the state of permafrost across the circumpolar North, an effort that introduces the joy of scientific discovery to children and transforms them into engaged scientists; and

WHEREAS Dr. Yoshikawa has been tireless and innovative in his efforts, whether traveling by snow machine to villages in Alaska, or creating a superhero of the permafrost known as "Tunnel Man";

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes great pride in the achievements and contributions of its faculty and extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University, in recognizing the extraordinary excellence in service demonstrated by Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa, bestows upon him the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Service Award on this day of May 8, 2012.

2011