UAF College of Liberal Arts

Permafrost. Sea ice. Coastal erosion.
Subsistence. The stories shaping the future of the Arctic require journalists who understand the science and are in the communities.

University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Science and Environmental Journalism is building that pipeline, training students to report on the science unfolding around them, with access to researchers, fieldwork and stories that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

With $256 million in annual research expenditures and the only Arctic university in the United States, the program sits in the center of one of the most researched regions on earth.

Read the spotlight online here: https://www.alaska.edu/news/did-you-know/2026-did-you-know-uaf-department-science-environmental-journalism.php

🎭 Got a story to tell? SDA is looking for student directors for Winter Shorts 2026! Check out this opportunity to bring your vision to the stage.

🎭 STUDENT DIRECTORS WANTED 🎭

Have a play you've always wanted to direct? The Student Drama Association is seeking directors for Winter Shorts 2026!

We're looking for short plays (15–50 minutes) of all genres, subjects and cast sizes. Original works are welcome if a completed script is submitted with your application.

No matter your experience level, you'll receive support from Theatre UAF faculty and fellow students throughout the production process.

📅 Applications are due Sunday, Aug. 9 at midnight.

Learn more and apply here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeE_mHJUX_KWQMkZcTWwKlH0R75H1NjDDB9oZMfinTOmFsj8A/viewform

Big news for the Nanook community and the College of Liberal Arts. The University of Alaska has announced that Russell Vander Lugt has been selected as the next chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Col. Vander Lugt is not only a respected Arctic scholar and military leader. He is also a proud UAF alumnus with both a master’s degree in Arctic and Northern Studies and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Arctic and Northern History from UAF. His research and leadership reflect a deep commitment to Alaska, the Arctic, and collaboration with Alaska Native communities.

At the College of Liberal Arts, we are especially proud to see one of our own stepping into this important role. His journey through the Arctic and Northern Studies program speaks to the power of interdisciplinary education, research, and public service rooted in the North.

Please join us in congratulating Chancellor Select Vander Lugt as he prepares to lead America’s Arctic University into its next chapter.

We are excited to share that University of Alaska Fairbanks Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Charlene Stern has appointed Carrie Baker to serve as the permanent dean of the UAF College of Liberal Arts, effective May 17.

“The liberal arts serve as a critical foundation for all UAF students, thus making the CLA deanship a vitally important decision,” said Stern. “After a competitive national recruitment, Baker was selected from a robust pool of qualified candidates. Her vision for the future of the college, coupled with her collaborative leadership approach, makes her the ideal candidate to lead CLA forward into its next chapter.”

Baker has 20 years of experience at UAF, including serving as a professor of Theatre and Film (2005-2025), chair of CLA’s Theatre and Film Department (2012-2021), and associate dean of CLA (2021-2025). She is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild, with professional acting credits in stage, television, and film. Baker holds a B.A. in Theatre and English from Middlebury College and an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of California, Irvine.

Please welcome Carrie Baker as the new CLA dean!