Honorary Degrees & Meritorious Service Awards

Anna Ehlers has made significant contributions toward the landscape of traditional arts and culture of Southeast Alaska and far beyond. Anna is rooted in the traditional Tlingit art of Chilkat weaving mastery that goes far deeper than the highly technical weft and weave of mountain goat hair and cedar into exquisite clan regalia. Her expertise includes gathering and processing of traditional materials, a deep understanding of the complex social structure of Tlingit people represented by the technical and nuanced Tlingit art formline and knowledge of clan histories captured by the classic rules of design. Her work honors the dignity of Tlingit identity, status, and belonging. Anna Ehlers mastery of Chilkat weaving is both classic and timeless, representing one of the exquisite foundational roots of Northwest Coast Art. This award honors Anna Ehlers for her high caliber of artistic and cultural finesse, and representation of the vital role Indigenous women play in anchoring culture and traditions through art, textiles, and traditions in the past, present day, and for future generations. Her expertise in this tradition has garnered attention from the artist community, nationally and internationally and secured recognition through the National Endowment for the Arts, Rasmuson Foundation, and museums.

Beth Kerttula earned her Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of, after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Stanford University. Beth returned to Alaska as a young lawyer, beginning as a law clerk in the Alaska Court System. She was a public defender, counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and served eight years as an Assistant Attorney General in the Alaska Department of Law specializing in natural resource issues, including oil and gas.   Beth eventually followed in her father’s footsteps and successfully ran for political office, representing Juneau in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1998 to 2014. She was House Minority Leader from 2007 to 2014. Beth left her legislative seat to accept a position at Stanford University as a Visiting Fellow with the Center for Ocean Solutions. A few months later she was appointed by the Obama Administration to run the newly created National Ocean Council Office, representing 27 federal agencies, state and tribal governments, as well as a host of other stakeholders. Again, she was known for her ability to work with diverse parties.  In her time with the National Ocean Council, Beth implemented the National Ocean Plan and coordinated the nation’s first two regional marine plans (New England and Mid-Atlantic). As the National Ocean Council Director, she was presented with a U.S. Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest recognition the Commandant may bestow on a civilian.  She was also given the Office of Science and Technology Policy Director’s Award for Excellence for helping coordinate the first visit to the Arctic by a sitting U.S. president. In addition, Beth has been a Council of State Governments Toll Fellow, a Roosevelt Fellow, and a Center for Women’s Policy Studies Foreign Institute Fellow. Pieces of her work with the Department of Law and the Alaska Legislature are renowned, including Alaska’s cruise ship pollution legislation. She has been president of the Alaska Bar Association, and chair of the Legal Council of the Coastal States Organization. Beth is a member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood (Camp 2), and the Fil-Am and Filipino Communities of Juneau.

David Kiffer is a community leader in Ketchikan and an important figure in the arts and letters of Southeast Alaska.  He has worn many hats in his lifetime including journalist, regional historian, teacher, poet, musician, and mayor. He is currently executive director of Historic Ketchikan, a non-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation and sustainable historic tourism in Southeast Alaska. A noted columnist for local newspapers and websites, he has written hundreds of articles on regional history, exploring a David Kiffer is a community leader in Ketchikan and an important figure in the arts and letters of Southeast Alaska. He has worn many hats in his lifetime including journalist, regional historian, teacher, poet, musician, and mayor. He is currently the education coordinator at the Ketchikan Correctional Center and previously was the long-time executive director of Historic Ketchikan, a non-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation and sustainable historic tourism in Southeast Alaska. A noted columnist for local newspapers and websites, he has written hundreds of articles on regional history, exploring a wide range of topics and providing unparalleled documentation of many forgotten aspects of our history. He has written and published hundreds of poems. Mr. Kiffer is a leading figure on Ketchikan’s music scene and leads his own popular jazz band as well performing with numerous other groups in the area. He also taught private woodwind lessons to Ketchikan youth and adults for more than 20 years. He has been an adjunct professor at UAS-Ketchikan for 25 years, most recently teaching a very successful course in music appreciation for UAS.  He is the Mayor of City of Ketchikan and has served on the City Council for the past eight years. He previously served as Mayor of Ketchikan Gateway Borough and as a member of the borough assembly. He has served statewide on the Alaska Humanities Forum, the Alaska Center for the Book and on the executive boards of the Alaska Municipal League and the Alaska Conference of Mayors.wide range of topics and providing unparalleled documentation of many forgotten aspects of our history. He has written and published hundreds of poems. Mr. Kiffer is a leading figure on Ketchikan’s music scene and leads his own popular jazz band. He has also served as Mayor of Ketchikan Gateway Borough, as a member of the borough assembly, and on the city historic preservation committee.

Clark Gruening is known throughout Alaska for his contributions to our state. Born in California, but raised in Juneau, Clark graduated from Juneau Douglas High School in 1961.  University of Oregon granted him a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1965, and he earned his Juris Doctor with honors from George Washington University in 1969.  Clark is the grandson of the well-known Ernest Gruening, who was the Alaska territorial governor from 1939 to 1953.  Clark served two terms in the House of Representatives for the Alaska Legislature.  During this time, he was key to the creation of the Alaska Permanent Fund.   There is a long list of his contributions to our state’s philanthropic and public service sectors, including many years of work with the Juneau Community Foundation, the Foraker Group, Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) and Outdoor Recreation Community Access (ORCA), among many other organizations. 

Dr. Richard Carstensen is a Southeast Alaska naturalist who has made the region's ecological systems and landscape evolution his primary field of research. He is the co-founder and senior naturalist for Discovery Southeast, an organization that promotes environmental education, research, and awareness. He is a renowned cartographer, researcher, and innovator. He pioneered the use of drone-assisted aerial photography to locate and catalog the Tongass National Forests's oldest and tallest trees, updating his previous work on the Landmark Tree Project, a science-based effort to map the old-growth evergreens of Southeast Alaska. Dr. Carstensen produced Tlingit Clan territory and other cultural maps made from his own GIS interpretations of local landscapes, linking knowledge of previous European contact to ancient Alaskan geological forms. 

An Áak’w Kwáan Tlingit elder, Dr. Marie Olson – Kaayistaan (Tlingit) – has been a staunch supporter of the University of Alaska and has made significant and enduring educational cultural contributions to UAS, UAF, and the State of Alaska over the course of more than four decades. Over the course of a lifetime, Dr. Olson has experienced both the challenges and benefits of pursuing institutional education as an Alaska Native, ultimately earning two certificates, a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from UAS and continuing post-baccalaureate studies in multicultural education and Tlingit language studies at UAF. Most importantly, as a respected Tlingit Elder Marie Olson has in return become a Native educator within the University of Alaska system and has made multiple cultural and educational contributions to indigenous knowledge in Alaska, including the development of the nationally-acclaimed Guidelines for Respecting Cultural Knowledge (2010), and serving as an advisor on the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative. At UAS, Marie Olson has been a tireless supporter in the establishment and continuing operational support of the Native and Rural Student Center. An “Elder in Residence” for the center, she serves as a consultant to staff and faculty and is an inspiring champion of Native students from across the state. Marie Olson has also made important educational, cultural, and community contributions in Alaska beyond the university. In 2005, she received an Honoring Alaska’s Indigenous Literature Award for providing the Tlingit names and usage of the plants included in Carol R. Biggs, Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants, Vols. I and II: Alaska, Canada & Pacific Northwest Rainforest (1999). She has held positions of leadership within the Alaska Native Sisterhood, her contributions documented in the Sealaska Heritage Institute Archives “Marie Olson Collection, 1968-2005.” Marie Olson also took a leading role in the production of the League of Women Voters’ DVD documentary, For the Right of All: Ending Jim Crow in Alaska (2012), about Elizabeth Peratrovich’s campaign to end discrimination in Alaska, which is frequently is broadcast on 360 North public television and is used by educators in public school classrooms across the state.  

Dr. Botelho had a distinguished and long career with the State of Alaska Department of Law, which included serving for nine years as Attorney General for the State, the longest of any AG, and as the only Attorney General since statehood to serve under two Governors from differing political parties. In addition, he served the longest term as Mayor of Juneau in the history of the city, from 1988-1991 and then again from 2003-2012. As leader or member of many important teams for the state of Alaska, he has positively and materially contributed to Alaska’s Well-being and progress.  Dr. Botelho has served on countless important teams for our State. One colleague noted, “Bruce’s remarkable tenure as Alaska Attorney General is a testament to his competence, but also reflects the recognition by many across the political spectrum that Bruce’s primary, consistent mission was to further the needs and well-being of the state and its citizens.” As Mayor of Juneau, he continued to have statewide and international influence, creating the Juneau Human Rights Commission, starting the Sister City program, and serving as President of the Alaska Conference of Mayors, and Director of the Alaska Municipal League.  Mr. Botelho advocates and sees through to fruition many UAS projects, including the Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center, the fisheries science programs at Lena Point, the John Pugh Residence Hall, and more. 

Dr. Heagy is the music teacher at Glacier Valley Elementary School where she works alongside teachers to provide arts integrated experiences to all students. Lorrie has twenty years of classroom experience and is honored to have represented Alaska’s teachers as the 2011 Alaska Teacher of the Year.  It was the support of the Juneau community that gave Lorrie the confidence to attend the New England Conservatory as a Sistema Fellow and return to create Juneau, Alaska Music Matters (JAMM), an El Sistema-inspired program that provides tuition-free string instruction to 600 students throughout the Juneau School District.  Lorrie provides teacher training in brain-based learning, student engagement and positive youth development throughout the United States and as part of the Master of Arts in Teaching program at UAS.  Lorrie holds three master’s degrees of education:  elementary, music and library education. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in instruction, learning, and innovation. Lorrie is honored to have been adopted into the Kiks.adi clan by the clan leader.

Dr. Demmert has been recognized regionally, statewide, and nationally for her contributions to indigenous Tlingit language knowledge and culture. Her letters of support included many Alaskan leaders and educators, including Lt. Governor Byron Mallott, Dr. Richard Dauenhauer, and Dr. Edward K. Thomas. Reflecting themes noted in all support letters is this statement by UAS professor X̱'unei Lance Twitchell: “Ruth Demmert is one of the few people in Tlingit country that unites in all directions. She is not political, but only seems to want perpetuation of knowledge, culture, language, and love for one another. She is a perfect example of what we need to become in order to improve ourselves as people, cultures, and a region. My hope is that she will be a recipient of the degree, and we can honor the knowledge and linguistic fortitude that she has instilled on a generation of language learners, teachers, and advocates. Her teachings and dance group leadership have changed the world for the better, and have pushed us to continue learning and achieving.”