UAA College of Arts & Sciences - Dean's Dispatch, Issue 3

May 2022, Issue 3

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Spring is the best time of year to be at a university as we celebrate the accomplishments of our students. We hosted the inaugural CAS Celebration of Students in April, where we recognized one student from each Department for their achievements and awarded them a $1000 scholarship from our excellence funds. These scholarships were funded by Excellence Funds in the College along with those of individual departments, and were made possible by gifts from our generous donors. Thank you to our donors! You can read more about the event and the students’ accomplishments in this issue. We also feature one student, Jordyn McNeil, in particular and her journey at UAA.

On May 1, UAA hosted Commencement for the class of 2022 and the evening before, a Reunion Commencement for the classes of 2020 and 2021, which allowed the graduates to be recognized and walk across the stage. It was wonderful to see the happiness of our students in person! Each year the Provost asks students at commencement to stand if they participated in one of our high-impact practices, like internships, undergraduate research, and much more. These high-impact activities keep students engaged and provide a rich educational experience. It was great to see so many CAS students stand to signify their participation, and to thank the faculty for providing these valuable (and time-intensive) experiences. You can read more about the work of one faculty member, Kimberly Pace and her involvement with a high-impact program, Model UN.

Receiving a degree from UAA involves a balance of classwork, homework, studying, and exams. College of Arts and Sciences students receive a balanced education combining core-skills with knowledge in their major area. In addition, students have access to research projects, extra-curricular activities, and social events. Throughout their time at UAA, they make friendships and connections that last a lifetime. In this issue, we highlight Löki Gale Tobin, an alumna, her story, and her lasting connection to the university and College of Arts and Sciences.

As I complete my first academic year at UAA, I want to thank so many people, both on campus and off, for their support. I look forward to inviting you to campus for events in the summer and fall as we open up to the public. You can see a preliminary event list below.

Best,

Dr. Jenny McNulty, Dean

Student Spotlight:

Jordyn McNeil

Chemistry

Jordyn McNeil is a junior with a focus in Biochemistry. When discussing the research opportunities at UAA, Jordyn said, "There are so many opportunities at UAA...All students have to do is reach out, and they will find something to get involved in. I have been given plenty of opportunities in my chosen career field."

Faculty Spotlight:

Kimberly Pace

Political Science

Political Science Professor Kimberly Pace has been the Faculty Director of the Model United Nations program for the State of Alaska since 2003. She sat down with us to discuss her involvement with this program, her continued connection to current and former CAS students, and her investment in student success.

Donor Spotlight: Löki Gale Tobin

"I cannot expound enough about the quality of education received from the University of Alaska Anchorage. The relationships that I made on campus have existed well past my tenure at UAA and continue to inform and impact who I am, navigating this world as no longer a young adult- more mid-level career adult."

Inaugural CAS Celebration of Students

In April, the College of Arts and Sciences hosted the inaugural CAS Celebration of Students. At this event, we honored one student from every department with a scholarship for the next academic year. These students were selected by their respective departments in recognition of their academic excellence.

Read more - CAS Celebration of Students