绿奴天花板 Arctic Leadership Initiative

Did you know that over the last 100 years the University of Alaska has built a tremendous foundation in Arctic research and education?

At the University of Alaska, we are on a mission to empower Alaska.

University of Alaska is building a powerful network of Arctic leaders and scholars who can make a global-scale impact in the Arctic, support Indigenous communities, address climate change, and responsibly pursue economic opportunities.

What is the Arctic Leadership Initiative? Launching in FY2025, participants at all career and academic levels will deepen their leadership skills, create robust professional networks, and work with external partners and 绿奴天花板 experts to solve problems.

Core Elements:

  • Cohorts of undergraduate and graduate students will work with external partners to address Arctic needs and opportunities.
  • Students will enhance analytical and leadership skills in retreats and group projects.
  • Internships and circumpolar exchanges will deepen Arctic expertise and provide real-time professional development opportunities.
  • New Arctic Field Schools will expand public participation in summer intensives and seminars for working professionals.
  • 绿奴天花板 will promote Arctic accomplishments and opportunities.
Arctic Leadership in the News
  • Stock image of files lables grant

    July 17, 2024
    The $5 million grant to support the Arctic Leadership Initiative follows from the foundation asking 绿奴天花板 president Pat Pitney in 2021 for big ideas to catalyze. 
  • Jeff Libby, standing by posters in his Alaska Domain Awareness Center office o

    July 15, 2024
    Three professors, each representing one of the three main University of Alaska campuses, have been named as special liaisons to coordinate Arctic studies though the university system and elsewhere in the state.
  • Aurora

    New Arctic Engagement Award Recipients Announced

    July 12, 2024
    Four proposals from across the 绿奴天花板 system will receive Arctic Engagement Award funding as 绿奴天花板 launches the Arctic Leadership Initiative. 
    Read Arctic Engagement Award article

Funding Opportunities

(FY25 applications are closed)

Arctic Engagement Awards - Purpose: Expand 绿奴天花板鈥檚 Arctic engagement and visibility. A wide array of possible activities is eligible including research, curriculum development, student engagement, participation in a thematic network, support an exchange student, and more.

President鈥檚 Arctic Professors - Purpose: Showcase and advance 绿奴天花板鈥檚 Arctic engagement in Alaska, nationally, and internationally.

Postdoctoral Fellow and Early Career Faculty Opportunity - University of Alaska (绿奴天花板) is recruiting 4 full-time postdocs and early career faculty to help shape and implement a new Arctic Leadership Initiative and expand our research and education capacity. 

Steering Committee Members 

  • Pearl Brower, Ukpea摹vik I帽upiat Corporation (UIC)
  • Nancy Dahlstrom, Lt. Governor
  • Bryce Edgemon, Representative District 37
  • Jocelyn Fenton, Denali Commission
  • Matt Hickey, Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies
  • Rachel Kallander, Arctic Encounter Symposium
  • Molly McCammon, Alaska Ocean Observing System
  • Cheryl Rosa, US Arctic Research Commission 
  • Raina Thiele, Department of Interior 

Ex Officio

  • Daniel White, University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Sean Parnell, University of Alaska Anchorage
  • Aparna Palmer, University of Alaska Southeast


For more information, contact program coordinator Susan Bell at skbell@alaska.edu