When I joined the University of Alaska Foundation Board in 2019, I could not have imagined how meaningful this experience
would become. As a small business owner, I have always believed that investing in people matters—and few investments are more important than education. The students coming through the University of Alaska today are the future workforce, leaders, innovators and problem-solvers our state will rely on tomorrow. In a state as resilient, resourceful and interconnected as Alaska, investing in education strengthens not only individual lives, but the future of our communities.

Over the years, it has been a privilege to work alongside an extraordinary group of professionals and community leaders who generously give their time, talent and expertise to support postsecondary education and training in Alaska. I continue to be inspired by the passion our board members bring and by the many community partners who share their knowledge in service of students and the university system.

Stepping into the role of Board Chair is both exciting and humbling. I am deeply grateful to former Chair Meg Nordale for her thoughtful leadership and mentorship during this transition. Her steady guidance created a strong foundation for the work ahead. I am also fortunate to serve alongside Vice Chair Laura Edmondson, Treasurer Roald Helgesen and Secretary Stephanie Erickson, whose partnership helps ensure our board remains engaged, informed and focused on the UA Foundation’s mission, vision and values.

What makes this board especially strong is that while each director brings unique experience, relationships and perspective, we are united by a shared purpose: expanding opportunity for students and strengthening Alaska’s future. Through thoughtful collaboration and dedicated committee work, our board remains committed to maximizing the UA Foundation’s impact across the UA system.

The UA Foundation is strong thanks to generous donors, sound stewardship and thoughtful investment management. As we partner with leadership across the UA system, I am energized by the opportunities ahead. Together, we are committed to strengthening philanthropy, expanding student opportunity and ensuring that UA continues to make a meaningful impact in communities across our state.

Most of all, I’m inspired by the students whose lives are changed through scholarships, programs, research and opportunities made possible through philanthropy. Their success is why we do this work. It is an honor to serve as Board Chair, and I look forward to the next two years with optimism and gratitude. Thank you for your trust, generosity and belief in the future of Alaska and its students.

Gratefully,

Jennifer Schrage
University of Alaska Foundation, Board of Directors, Chair (2026-2027)

This list includes everyone who served in FY26. Click here for current UA Foundation Board of Directors.

OFFICERS

• Jennifer Schrage*, Chair, Signature Land Services
• Laura Edmondson, Vice Chair, Edmondson Consulting
• Roald Helgesen*, Treasurer, Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
• Stephanie Erickson Secretary, Erickson Advisors

DIRECTORS

• Anna Atchison*, Kinross Gold Corporation
• Bill Bailey*, Global Credit Union
• Andrea Canfield, Stoel Rives
• Amy Cook, TOTE Maritime Alaska
• Jason Gootee*, Moda Partners
• Ella Goss, Retired
• Todd Greimann*, Mauna Loa Land & Cattle
• Shauna Hegna*, Koniag
• Brian Holst, Juneau Economic Development Council
• Mary K. Hughes*, John C. Hughes Foundation
• Dave Karp, Saltchuk
• Tanya Kaquatosh, Doyon, Limited
• Melissa Kookesh* Alaska Broadband Office, DCCED
• Stephanie Madsen, Retired
• Meg Nordale, GHEMM Company
• Melissa Reiser, First National Bank Alaska
• Benjamin Roth*, SBS Retirement Consultants 
• Tim Thompson*, Alaska Airlines
• Aleesha Towns-Bain, Bristol Bay Foundation

EX OFFICIO

• Pat Pitney*, University of Alaska
• Michelle Rizk*, University of Alaska
• Aparna Palmer, University of Alaska Southeast
• Mike Sfraga*, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Cheryl Siemers*, University of Alaska Anchorage

REGENT DIRECTORS

• Dale Anderson, University of Alaska Board of Regents
• Steve Colligan*, University of Alaska Board of Regents

*University of Alaska Graduate

As someone who has spent her entire career as an educator, my greatest joy has always been witnessing that exact moment when students discover their purpose and realize their potential. Serving as Chancellor at the University of Alaska Southeast is a
profound privilege because our work here is so intimately tied to the people and the extraordinary places we call home. Every day, I am humbled by the resilience and determination of our students. To me, philanthropy is much more than financial support; it is the vital tool that allows us to truly live out our core values of Access and Excellence. By helping to remove financial barriers, your gifts ensure that a transformative education is within reach for learners from all walks of life. It gives us the foundation to lead with intention, creating an environment where our students are truly seen, valued, and guided along their own unique paths to success.

What moves me most about your investment in UAS is the powerful, immediate ripple effect it creates throughout Southeast Alaska. When you support our university, you are doing more than funding programs—you are directly strengthening the communities we serve. By building intentional partnerships with regional employers, we can respond directly to Alaska’s specific workforce needs, creating pathways for both dual-enrolled and degreeseeking students. I want our donors to feel a deep connection to these outcomes. We see your impact not just in our graduation rates, but in the lives of our alumni who choose to stay, work, and lead right here at home, building the resilient workforce that sustains our region’s vitality.

Looking forward, our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan outlines a bold and purposeful vision: making UAS the premier experiential 
learning university in Alaska. To make this a reality, strategic philanthropy is absolutely essential. Our highest priority is securing sustainable support for scholarships and programs, ensuring that our students, no matter their discipline, can engage in hands-on learning without the weight of financial hardship. A beautiful and deeply meaningful cornerstone of this vision is the Cyril George Indigenous Knowledge Center, an intentional space for our community to immerse themselves in the Indigenous cultures, languages, and arts of Southeast Alaska. Philanthropy is the quiet, powerful force that brings this vision to life, allowing us to cultivate profound learning experiences and ensuring UAS remains a beacon of opportunity for the generations to come

In June, I was honored to return to UAF to serve as interim chancellor until Russ Vander Lugt ’10, ’23, officially takes the helm on Sept. 8. Returning to my roots at UAF also offered me a chance to work alongside outgoing Interim Chancellor Mike Sfraga ’84, ’97, our nation’s first Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs. Mike spent this past year elevating UAF’s role in educating Alaska’s students, developing tomorrow’s leaders, meeting our need for a qualified workforce, and creating solutions for the challenges facing our state and nation.

UAF is uniquely poised to address the complexities facing Alaska and the polar North— from the resilience of our communities and cultures to our rapidly changing geopolitical and environmental landscapes. As America’s Arctic university, our mission requires more than just academic rigor. It demands deep collaboration. Philanthropy plays a pivotal role in expanding partnerships across the circumpolar North.

I am deeply inspired by our donors who recognize that the Arctic is not just a region on a map, but a profound responsibility. Their generosity serves as a bridge, anchoring our work on the Troth Yeddha’ campus and connecting it seamlessly with our rural campuses across Alaska and the state’s Indigenous communities. It elevates UAF’s voice in international conversations regarding
climate change, national security and cultural preservation.

We see the real-world impact of this investment through vital efforts like the Arctic Leadership Initiative, which trains Alaska leaders to address global Arctic challenges. These are not isolated projects; they are part of a broader ecosystem where philanthropy, research and community partnership intersect to drive meaningful outcomes, provide targeted workforce development and solve distinct Arctic challenges.

While leadership may transition, UAF’s core priorities remain steadfast. We will continue to stand as a global leader in Arctic research and a trusted partner to Alaska’s people. Transformational initiatives like the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center will ensure Indigenous knowledge and collaboration remain at the very heart of our mission.

We will grow our Arctic research capabilities and increase our mentorship of the next generation of science and policy experts, which in turn will strengthen UAF’s ability to inform public policy, advance scientific discovery, enhance our state’s economic health and respond to rapid environmental shifts.

Philanthropy is absolutely essential to this vision. It enables us to think at scale, act with purpose and align our resources with the true realities of the North. Together with our donors, we are not just sustaining UAF’s extraordinary legacy, we are advancing it as a world-class institution committed to innovation, cooperation and enduring impact.

Welcome Colonel Russell “Russ” Vander Lugt, Ph.D., who recently started as chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. A 20-year Alaska resident, Chancellor Vander Lugt is a UAF alum, with an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Arctic and Northern History. In addition to his Ph.D., he holds a master’s degree in Arctic and Northern studies from UAF, a master’s degree in management science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a bachelor’s degree in music and historical theology from Wheaton College. His research draws on Arctic history, security, anthropology and Indigenous knowledge systems and reflects a longstanding commitment to collaboration with Alaska Native communities.

Prior to taking on the role, Chancellor Vander Lugt was the commander of the 11th Airborne Division’s Arctic Aviation Command at Fort Wainwright. He was a senior military officer and Arctic scholar with 26 years of executive leadership experience in complex organizations. He previously served as director of strategy, plans and programs for Alaskan Command, advising senior defense leaders on Arctic strategy and coordinating joint military activities in Alaska.

“Col. Vander Lugt’s experience in academia, the military, and the Arctic reflects the unique position that UAF holds in our state, and we are pleased that he’s willing to serve as the next chancellor of America’s Arctic University,” said Interim UA President Michelle Rizk at the time of his hire. “As an alumnus, he understands the quality and value of a UA education and the critical role that UAF plays in research and national security. We’re confident that his wideranging expertise and commitment to student success will serve UAF well.”

“I look forward to leading through trust, transparency and teamwork as we see Alaska and the Arctic transformed through education, research and public service,” Vander Lugt said. “I’m committed to building on the strong foundation Chancellors Sfraga and White have established, and working closely with university leadership and governance to support and advance UAF’s mission.”