FALL 2020 COMMENCEMENT COMMENCEMENT FALL CLASS OF 2020 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 The University of Alaska Anchorage awards degrees and certificates in commencement ceremonies held each December and May as directed by the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska Statewide System of Higher Education. All degrees and certificates are conferred by the authority of the Board of Regents. UA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination. i COMMENCEMENT I FALL 2020 FALL 2020 I COMMENCEMENT THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh, say, can you see, By the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed At the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, Through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, Were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, The bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there. Oh, say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave O’er the land of the free And the home of the brave? Francis Scott Key ALASKA’S FLAG SONG Eight stars of gold on a field of blue, Alaska’s flag, may it mean to you; The blue of the sea, the evening sky, The mountain lakes and the flow’rs nearby; The gold of the early sourdough’s dreams, The precious gold of the hills and streams; The brilliant stars in the northern sky, The “Bear,” the “Dipper,” and, shining high, The great North Star with its steady light, O’er land and sea a beacon bright, Alaska’s flag to Alaskans dear, The simple flag of a last frontier. ii COMMENCEMENT I FALL 2020 FALL 2020 I COMMENCEMENT THE BOARD OF REGENTS UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA Sheri Buretta, Chair Eagle River, 2015-2023 Karen Perdue, Vice Chair CONTENTS Fairbanks, 2017-2025 Dale Anderson, Secretary Juneau, 2012-2021 General Information . .iii Lisa Parker, Treasurer Soldotna, 2015-2023 Order of Events . .iv John Bania, Regent 2020 Emeritus, Honorary Degree Wrangell, 2019-2027 and Meritorious Service Awards . 1-4 John Davies, Regent Fairbanks, 2015-2023 Student Speaker . 5 Cachet Garrett, Regent Fairbanks, 2019-2021 Chancellor’s Greeting . 6 Darroll R. Hargraves, Regent Wasilla, 2019-2027 President’s Greeting . 7 Mary K. Hughes, Regent Academic Traditions . 8 Anchorage, 2002-2025 Gloria O’Neill, Regent Fall Class of 2020 . 9-20 Anchorage, 2013-2021 Andy Teuber, Regent College of Arts and Sciences . 9 Kodiak, 2015-2023 College of Business and Public Policy . 12 ADMINISTRATION College of Engineering . 14 UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE College of Health . 15 Pat Pitney, Interim President University of Alaska Statewide System Community and Technical College . 18 Cathy Sandeen, Chancellor Denise Runge, Provost University Honors College . 20 Bill Jacob, Interim Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services Graduating with Honors . 21-27 Megan Olson, Vice Chancellor Acknowledgments . 28 for University Advancement Bruce Schultz, Vice Chancellor UAA Alma Mater . .30 for Student Affairs Aaron Dotson, Associate Vice Chancellor, Congratulations from UAA Alumni Association Office of Research Christi Bell, Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of the Business Enterprise Institute Sara Childress, Director/Title IX Coordinator for the Office of Equity and Compliance Jennifer Booz, Chief Diversity Officer iii COMMENCEMENT I FALL 2020 ORDER OF EVENTS Alaska Native Welcome. Marcella Asicksik The Star-Spangled Banner ........................................................ Christabel Sosa Alaska’s Flag Song .......................................Dr. Mari Hahn, UAA Professor of Music and Dr. Jaunelle Celaire, UAF Professor of Music Chancellor’s Welcome and Message to the Graduates . Chancellor Cathy Sandeen Conferring and Presentation of Honorary Degree and Meritorious Service Awards ..........................................Chancellor Cathy Sandeen Conferring of Emeritus Status ................................................Provost Denise Runge Student Speaker ...................................................................Jamie Bagley B.S. Biological Sciences Congratulations from the Faculty ...................................................... Kelly Smith Faculty Senate President Presentation of Candidates for Graduation Congratulations from the Alumni Association ....................................... Jessica Jacobsen M.S. 2019 UAA Alma Mater ........................................ Grace Aubrey, Dr. Mari Hahn, Noah Hamre, Autumn Levy, Erika Masinde, Christabel Sosa Conferring of Degrees and Certificates ........................................ UA Board of Regents iv FALL 2020 I COMMENCEMENT 2020 EMERITUS The position of emeritus is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a full-time professor or staff member who has retired after a minimum of 10 years of faithful service to the University of Alaska. Renee Carter-Chapman Sandra Pence Maureen O’Malley Senior Vice Provost Emerita Professor Emerita of Dental Hygiene, Professor Emerita of Nursing College of Health (posthumous award), College of Health Patricia Moores Fannie Slaten Staff Emerita, College of Business Staff Emerita, College of Business and Public Policy and Public Policy 1 COMMENCEMENT I FALL 2020 HONORARY DEGREE AWARD BILL SHEFFIELD Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters In 1982, the battle for the governorship of Alaska was intense. Ultimately, Bill Sheffield won, but his path to governing the 49th state came from humble beginnings in Silverdale, Washington where he grew up and his lifelong “pro-job” philosophy was inspired by President Roosevelt’s fireside chats during the Great Depression. After serving in the United States Airforce during World War II, Sheffield worked as a sales and service representative for Sears Roebuck. In 1953, he was transferred to Alaska where he earned the title of top salesman in the country for four years straight. Sheffield’s experience with the burgeoning Sears company allowed him, with his partner and friend Brad Phillips, to branch out into the hospitality industry. He and Phillips purchased their first property at 9th and D and established the Anchorage Inn. Eventually, Sheffield bought out his business partner, expanded his hotel holdings and grew his hotel empire to 19 properties in Alaska and the Yukon territories. In 1975, recognized for his business acumen, Sheffield was elected to the Anchorage Charter Commission — his first foray into public service. In 1982, he decided to join the heated governor race. As governor, Sheffield was a builder. During his tenure, he oversaw massive statewide projects investing in Alaska’s infrastructure from roadways to water systems. He consolidated the state’s four time zones into two and is responsible for creating Alaska Standard Time. Sheffield also helped facilitate the purchase of the Alaska Railroad from the federal government and commissioned the construction of Spring Creek Correctional Facility in Seward. After leaving the governor’s office, Sheffield helmed the Alaska Railroad and became port director for the Municipality of Anchorage until retiring in January 2011. Recently celebrating his 90th birthday, Sheffield leaves his indelible legacy of leadership in Alaska. It is the University of Alaska Anchorage’s honor and privilege to confer upon Bill Sheffield the title of Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. 2 FALL 2020 I COMMENCEMENT MERITORIOUS SERVICE RENEE CARTER-CHAPMAN Meritorious Service Award Throughout her over 40-year career at UAA, Renee Carter-Chapman has demonstrated excellence in each initiative she has undertaken. An extraordinary leader, Carter-Chapman was responsible for the creation of, and advocacy for, an astonishing array of integral programs that have increased the quality, recognition and prestige of the entire University of Alaska system. Dating back to UAA’s earliest years during its merger with Anchorage Community College, Carter-Chapman was instrumental in the creation of the Community and Technical College and continued by heading the university’s first coordinated student success and retention strategies. As a leader in Academic Affairs and on the Chancellor’s Cabinet, Carter-Chapman was a consistent and successful advocate of community engagement and partnerships. It was her and then-Provost Dan Johnson who first championed the idea of service-learning at UAA. Together, they established the Faculty Fellow in Community Engagement to conduct research, develop strategies and create opportunities for faculty to learn more about this powerful pedagogy. Additionally, in 1998 Carter-Chapman oversaw the establishment of UAA’s Center for Community Engagement and Learning, which has since become one of the university’s signature, nationally recognized programs. Most recently, Carter-Chapman was the driving force behind UAA’s remarkable involvement and success in the Ford Foundation’s Difficult Dialogues initiative. She identified the opportunity, gathered the original team of faculty and staff together to develop a proposal, formed a groundbreaking partnership with Alaska Pacific University and served as co-principal investigator for the project. Her proposal was one of only 26 in the nation to receive a Ford Foundation grant, out of a pool of over 700 pre-proposals submitted by some of the most elite institutions of higher education in the nation. It is the University of Alaska Anchorage’s honor and privilege to award Renee Carter-Chapman the Meritorious Service Award. 3 COMMENCEMENT I FALL 2020 MERITORIOUS SERVICE W.A. (WILL) JACOBS Meritorious Service Award W. A. (Will) Jacobs is a professor