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This Leadership Team Newsletter is published every two weeks by the Dean's Office in the College of Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

To submit content, email: slsmith@uaa.alaska.edu
The UAA College of Health advances the health and well being of people and communities
April 28, 2016
Announcements
COH Curriculum Committee Meets Wednesdays

The COH Curriculum Committee holds its regular meetings on Wednesdays, 10 am - 11:30 am
in PSB 122C. The deadline for submission of materials for committee review is Monday at 9 am, the week prior to the meeting. For more information on the
procedures for accepting and processing curriculum submissions, as well as contact information, download the following document (pdf): https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/collegeofhealth/upload/coh-committee-info_ay15-16.pdf.
 
BCA Student Expo to Take Place Saturday, April 30 at Service High

Service High School is having a Biomedical Career Academy (BCA) Student Expo and would like to invite the UAA community, especially the UAA College of Health faculty, staff, and students.
 
Saturday, April 30, 10 am - noon
Service High School Cafeteria
View a flyer (pdf)
 
Unit Updates
Alaska Center for Rural Health - Alaska's AHEC - - -

Alaska AHEC Program to Hold Three Behavioral Health Camps This Summer
 
The Alaska AHEC Program will be offering three camps this summer focused on behavioral health careers. The camps are designed for students ages 15-21 to explore career pathways in the field of behavioral health. Students will earn one college credit and learn about key topics in behavioral health, including wellness techniques, abuse, neglect, addiction, grief, stress, and mental health. Camps will be held in Barrow, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. For more details, view a flyer (pdf). Please share this opportunity and contact Gloria Burnett with questions at 907-786-6705.

Department of Health Sciences - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
Barron's Highlights Project on Formulating Insulation from Mushrooms

Barron's magazine
published an article about Dr. Philippe Amstislavski's biomaterials project on formulating carbon-neutral, non-toxic, and biodegradable insulation. He and his team, including Dr. Joey Yang, UAA College of Engineering, is working on a biotechnology that will produce high-performing green foam to replace non-biodegradable plastic foams in insulation. The new material is "grown" from mycelium, or mushroom rootlets, and from local forestry by-products. Download the article "Using Mushrooms to Grow Insulation Products" (April 16, 2016) or visit: http://www.barrons.com/articles/using-mushrooms-to-grow-insulation-products-1460780877.
 
Rhonda Johnson Leads Workshop on Community Based Participatory Research in Finland
 
Dr. Rhonda Johnson co-led a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) workshop for doctoral students at University of Oulu, Finland in February under the auspices of the University of the Arctic. She also completed the first phase of key informant interviews there for a new collaborative project on Sami Research Ethics, funded by the Thule Institute and a UAA Faculty Development Grant.
 
Dr. Johnson Collaborates on Sanitation Education Project in Greenland  
 
Professor Rhonda Johnson, Department of Health Sciences, participated in the Artek International meeting in Sisimiut, Greenland in April 2016 as part of a new collaborative rural sanitation educational project with circumpolar partners. The new project will facilitate the development of a new graduate course, additional continuing education resources, and increased student and faculty mobility across the region. 
   Rhonda Johnson and Bob Tsigonis 
Final Three MPH Students Successfully Defend Project Practicums
 
Congratulations to the last round of MPH students who defended their project practicums this Spring!
 


David Fitzgerald, "Program Evaluation of the Living Well with Diabetes Program"





Jewelz Crandall, "Community-Specific Health Education Curriculum for Rural Community Gardens"




Andrew Tooyak, "The United Caribou Association of the Nunamuit"
  
Department of Human Services - - - - - - - - - - -
 
Melodee Monson Granted Emeritus Status
  
Melodee Monson, Office manager for the Department of Human Services, will be retiring at the end of June. Melodee dedicated 28 years to the UAA system with a stellar career. Congratulations Melodee! 
 

AmeriCorps Grant Awarded to the Department of Human Services
 
The Department of Human Services successfully obtained an educational award grant from AmeriCorps. This grant, which begins in the fall 2016 academic semester, will allow students to earn an educational award while doing their field placements in the community.
 
Helping Students Be Success
 
Lynn Paterna, Human Services Faculty and Ira Rosnel, Human Services adjunct faculty, were named by UAA first-year/ second-year students as "instructors who have helped them become successful," according to a UAA Mapworks survey.
 
Justice Center  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dr. Rosay Spoke at Harvard about Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives
 
On April 26, at Harvard University, Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, joined Christine Crossland (National Institute of Justice) and Ada Pecos Melton (American Indian Development Associates) at two events about policy and research addressing violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men. For more information, visit: http://uaajusticecenter.blogspot.com/2016/04/dr-rosay-speaks-at-two-events-at.html.
 
Dr. Lepage Recognized by Senior Seawolf Women's Basketball Players
 
Dr. Cory R. Lepage, Justice faculty, was one of over 20 UAA professors recognized on Faculty Appreciation Night 2016 by senior Seawolf women's basketball players. Players invited faculty members to the event on February 11, 2016 at the Alaska Airlines Center to thank them "for their work in the classroom and their support of the Seawolves." Dr. Lepage was invited by Seawolf players and Justice majors Jessica M. Madison and Dominique V. Brooks . For more information, visit: http://uaajusticecenter.blogspot.com/2016/04/dr-lepage-recognized-by-two-senior.html
Dr. Cory R. Lepage with Jessica M. Madison (l) and Dominique V. Brooks (r) 
UW School of Law Hosted Information Table for UAA Students
 
Patricia C. Kuszler, MD, J D , Vice Dean of the University of Washington School of Law, visited the UAA campus on April 11 to host an information table for UAA students interested in law school. Dr. Kuszler also made a presentation in Prof. Jason Brandeis' class, LEGL 101 Intro to Law. Prof. Deb Periman, JD , Legal Studies Program Coordinator in the Justice Center, joined Dr. Kuszler in advising students about the LSAT, careers in law, and the 3+3 accelerated law school admissions program with UW. For more information, visit: http://uaajusticecenter.blogspot.com/2016/04/uw-school-of-law-hosts-information.html .
 
New AJSAC Fact Sheet Presents Data on Trauma Admissions Involving Firearms
 
The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet presents data on trauma admissions to all 24 Alaska acute care facilities for injuries involving firearms for the period 2009 - 2014. The report, "Alaska Trauma Registry: Trauma Admissions Involving Firearms, 2009 - 2014," presents data provided by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Department of Public Health, Alaska Trauma Registry. For more information, visit: http://uaajusticecenter.blogspot.com/2016/04/ajsac-fact-sheet-released-alaska-trauma.html.
 
Attorney Matt Findley Speaks to Pre-Law Society about Arguing Before the US Supreme Court
 
Attorney Matt Findley, who argued the recently decided case of Sturgeon vs. Frost in front of the US Supreme Court, spoke to the Pre-Law Society on April 15 about his preparation for and experience of arguing in front of the highest court in our nation. Mr. Findley is with the Anchorage law firm of Ashburn & Mason. Prof. Ryan Fortson, JD, is the Pre-Law Society faculty advisor. For more information, visit: http://uaajusticecenter.blogspot.com/2016/04/pre-law-society-hears-from-attorney.html.

 

Final Report from Governor's Housing Summit Released
 
The summation reports from the Governor's Housing Summit, held January 6 at UAA, have been released. Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, facilitated the Reducing Recidivism through Housing breakout session, which included assistance from Bryan Butcher, CEO/Executive Director, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, and Jeff Jesse, Chief Executive Officer, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, along with designated note-keeper Morgen Jaco, Reentry Coordinator, Probation Officer II, Department of Corrections. For more information, visit: http://uaajusticecenter.blogspot.com/2016/04/final-report-from-governors-housing.html.
 
Alpha Phi Sigma Inducts 16 New Members
 
Sixteen Justice and Legal Studies majors were inducted as members of the Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society, Omega Xi Chapter, on April 12. Prof. Ryan Fortson is the Alpha Phi Sigma faculty advisor. For more information, visit: http://uaajusticecenter.blogspot.com/2016/04/alpha-phi-sigma-national-criminal.html.

 
 
Dr. Payne and Justice grad Daniel Reinhard Co-Author Article in International Criminal Justice Review
 
Dr. Troy Payne , Justice faculty, and Daniel Reinhard, '15 BA Justice, co-authored the article "The Complexity of Problem-Solving in Urban Parks: A Case Study," recently published in International Criminal Justice Review. For more information, visit: http://uaajusticecenter.blogspot.com/2016/04/dr-payne-and-justice-grad-daniel.html.

Calendar
Upcoming Events/Deadlines
  • April 30 - Graduate Hooding Ceremony
  • May 1 - Commencement
  • May 3 - UNAC workloads due from dean to faculty
  • May 7 - UNAC workloads due to OAA*
  • May 7 - UNAC notification to dean from faculty planning to stand for P&T with list of external reviewers
  • May 16 - Summer 2016: First 5-wk session, first day of classes  
  • May 20 - National Bike to Work Day
  • May 30 - Memorial Day holiday
  • June 22 - Summer 2016, Second 5-week session, first day of classes
  • July 4 - Independence Day holiday