UAS positioned prominently in University of Alaska’s new Arctic Leadership Initiative

University of Alaska Southeast congratulates Dr. Erica Hill, Dr. Glenn Wright, and Dr. Megan Behnke for their success in the inaugural University of Alaska Arctic Leadership Initiative awards.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: July 19, 2024

University of Alaska Southeast congratulates Dr. Erica Hill, Dr. Glenn Wright, and Dr. Megan Behnke for their success in the inaugural University of Alaska Arctic Leadership Initiative awards. Proposals from UAS leaders were selected for UA recognition and funding that supports Alaskans as world leaders in the Arctic, provides students and early career professionals with the foundation and network needed to lead in the changing Arctic and enhances the reputation of UA’s universities as centers of Arctic expertise.

In March 2023, with the support of a planning grant from the Rasmuson Foundation, President Pitney launched the UA Arctic Leadership Initiative.

“The Arctic Leadership Initiative will build pathways for future leaders who will influence the Arctic,” said President Pitney. “The world is coming north, and Alaska needs leaders, advocates and scholars who can help us drive our own future. This initiative will intentionally develop, elevate and empower those people, and I am thrilled that the University of Alaska will be the tip of the spear in those efforts.”

Awards for the President’s Arctic Professors cohort, Arctic Engagement, and the Postdoctoral Fellow and Early Career Faculty Opportunity were recently announced. UAS leaders competed successfully in each of the three award categories.

President’s Arctic Professors: UAS' Dr. Erica Hill is one of three UA professors to receive salary support over the next two years to devote time, expertise and acumen to the continued development of the Initiative and other programs that will increase the impact of UA’s Arctic activities in Alaska, nationally, and internationally. The Arctic Professorship enables Hill to pursue a new phase of research and combine her research with public and scholarly engagement to highlight Arctic research in archeology and human-animal studies. Hill is a Professor of Anthropology at UAS and served as Program Director for Arctic Social Sciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF) between 2020 and 2024.

Arctic Engagement Awards: UAS’ Dr. Glenn Wright, along with Dr. Boylan and Dr. Lovecraft of UAF, are recipients of an Arctic Engagement Award. This award provides $18,850 in funding for their joint proposal to develop a multidisciplinary lecture series and an affiliated course to showcase leadership from multiple sectors and communities in Alaska and the Canadian High North. Wright is a Professor of Political Science at UAS and serves as the Statewide Coordinator for the Senator Ted Stevens State Legislative Internship Program.

Postdoctoral Fellow and Early Career Faculty Opportunity: UAS’ Dr. Megan Behnke is an Early Career Faculty member receiving $80,000 annually for up to two years to support salary, benefits, and expenses. UA’s four Postdoctoral Fellow and Early Career Faculty recipients will help shape and implement the Initiative and expand UA’s research and educational capacity. Funding supports Behnke’s continued environmental and climate adaptation research. Behnke will join the UAS faculty as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in Fall 2024.

Read more about the Awards and all UA recipients at the UA News website.