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Senate Members

2024 – 2025 Faculty Senate Members

*Please see Article III of the Constitution in the UAS Faculty Handbook for information concerning membership

President

Brian Blitz

Brian Blitz

Professor of Mathematics, Faculty Senate President

He enjoys teaching all levels of mathematics courses. His areas of interest include geometry, graph theory and algebra.

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President Elect

Ali Ziegler, Ph.D.

Ali Ziegler, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychology

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Past President

Glenn D. Wright, Ph.D.

Glenn D. Wright, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science; Statewide Coordinator, Senator Ted Stevens State Legislative Internship Program

For Glenn, the study of politics is a vocation as well as a pastime, though he also enjoys skiing and sea kayaking. He writes on environmental issues, resource governance, and Alaska state politics and spends about 150 days a year on skis or in a kayak.

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Business/PADM Senator

Michael Boyer, J.D. (he/him)

Michael Boyer, J.D.

Associate Professor of Law Science

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Career Education Senator

Robin Gilcrist (she/her)

Robin Gilcrist

Professor and Program Head of Construction Technology

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Education Senator

Kevin Spink, Ph.D.

Kevin Spink, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Elementary Education

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Humanities Senator

Andrea L. Dewees

Andrea L. Dewees

Associate Professor of Spanish

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Library Senator

Jennifer Ward, M.L.I.S.

Jennifer Ward, M.L.I.S.

Professor of Library and Information Science, Outreach Services Librarian

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Natural Sciences Senator

Charmaine Lewis, Ph.D.

Charmaine Lewis, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Science

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Social Sciences Senator

Glenn D. Wright, Ph.D.

Glenn D. Wright, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science; Statewide Coordinator, Senator Ted Stevens State Legislative Internship Program

For Glenn, the study of politics is a vocation as well as a pastime, though he also enjoys skiing and sea kayaking. He writes on environmental issues, resource governance, and Alaska state politics and spends about 150 days a year on skis or in a kayak.

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Juneau Campus Senator

X̱’unei Lance Twitchell, M.F.A., Ph.D. (hú/du, he/him)

X̱’unei Lance Twitchell, M.F.A., Ph.D.

Professor of Alaska Native Languages

All systems and spaces have space for Indigenous languages, knowledges, arts, and peoples. You can study with us and stand up for Indigenous languages, ways of knowing, and decolonization in revolutionary self-love. Kakḵwa.áaḵw aag̱áa yakḵwadláaḵ: I will try, and I will succeed!

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Ketchikan Campus Senator

Kasia Polanska, Ph.D.

Kasia Polanska, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Sociology & Political Science

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Sitka Campus Senator

Joel A. Markis, M.S.

Joel A. Markis, M.S.

Associate Professor

In his free time, Joel enjoys backcountry skiing, fishing, sailing, is an avid SCUBA diver and dive instructor, and generally likes spending time outside. He is passionate about teaching and Alaskan fisheries.

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