UAS Celebrates 2021 Faculty Excellence, Promotions & Tenure
It is with great pride that the University of Alaska Southeast announces the recent promotions of our esteemed faculty, as well as the 2021 Faculty Excellence Awards. Please join UAS as we congratulate them.
Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Alaska
Date of Press Release: August 27, 2021
It is with great pride that the University of Alaska Southeast announces the recent promotions of our esteemed faculty, as well as the 2021 Faculty Excellence Awards. Please join UAS as we congratulate them.
Associate Professor Kevin Maier has been promoted to Full Professor of English. Maier earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of Oregon. He also holds a Master of Arts in English from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Western Washington University.
Assistant Professor Joel Markis has been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Based at the Sitka campus, Markis teaches and is the program director for the Applied Fisheries program. He holds a Master of Science in Marine Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management from Montana State University.
Assistant Professor Ljubomir “LJ” Medenica was promoted to Associate Professor of Public Administration with tenure. Dr. Medenica earned his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from California Coast University, and also holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Dr. Medenica teaches and is the program coordinator for the Master of Public Administration Program.
Assistant Professor Sonia Nagorski has been promoted to Associate Professor of Geology with tenure. Dr. Nagorski earned her Ph.D. and Master of Science in Geology from the University of Montana. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geology and History from Amherst College in Massachusetts. She is also a researcher, focusing on environmental geochemistry.
Assistant Professor Lisa Richardson was promoted to Associate Professor of Education with tenure. Dr. Richardson holds a Ph.D. in Language Reading and Culture from the University of Arizona. She also holds a Master of Arts in English from Middlebury College and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Montana State University. She is the program coordinator for the Master of Education and Graduate Certificate Reading Specialist programs.
2020-2021 UAS Faculty Excellence Award Winners:
- Excellence in Faculty Advising Award: Dr. Kevin Maier, Professor of English
- Excellence in Adjunct Instruction Award: Éedaa Heather Burge, Adjunct Professor of Alaska Native Languages
- Excellence in Open Educational Practices: Dr. X̱’unei Lance Twitchell, Associate Professor of Alaska Native Languages
- Excellence in Teaching Award: Dr. Daniel Monteith, Associate Professor of Anthropology
- Excellence in Teaching Award: Dr. Sonia Nagorski, Associate Professor of Geology
This year the emeritus distinction was bestowed on Ketchikan-based Professor of English Rod Landis. Appointment as professor emeritus or emerita is an honor conferred by the Chancellor, on just a small portion of retiring professors who have demonstrated excellence, following consideration of recommendations by the faculty, upon an outstanding retiree of the university.
Learn more about our faculty and the degree programs available at the University of Alaska Southeast.