What’s your academic background? I went to Cosmetology school at Metroasis in 1997, later I went to UAA for two years with a focus on Russian language and culture. Who inspires you? My husband helps me be the best version of myself and encourages all my artistic endeavours so I’m going to have to be…
APU Spotlight
Photobook: 2019 Spring Commencement
On Saturday, April 27 at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium, APU celebrated the culmination of endless hours of hard work with the 2019 Spring graduates. The “Wendy” was alive with excitement, optimism and the acknowledgment that a new chapter was about to begin for many of the graduates. We are proud of this year’s graduates and…
Photo Book: Empowerment Through Music
On Friday, March 1 the Leah J. Peterson Speaker Series hosted its final event in Rasmuson Hall entitled: Empowerment Through Music. During the event, Dr. Maria Williams explored the role of Indigenous song and dance during the Alaska Native cultural revitalization of the 1980’s and 1990’s. Below are a few moments captured during the final…
Photo Book: Empowerment Through the Performing Arts
On Friday, February 22 the Leah J. Peterson Speaker Series welcomed the Anchorage Vagina Monologues Director for a discussion on empowerment through performing arts. The panel discussed how the Vagina Monologues explores consensual and non-consensual sexual experiences, body image, genital mutilation, direct and indirect encounters with reproduction, sex work, and several other topics through the…
Photo Book: Empowerment Through the Visual Arts
The 3rd Annual Leah J. Peterson Speaker Series began Friday, February 15 with the first event in a three-part series entitled, Empowerment Through the Arts. The event focused on the visual arts including a panel discussion facilitated by James Temte. Indigenous Visual Artists Lindy Lyons, Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Holly Nordlum, and Joe Senungetuk discussed topics including…
Mental Health Awareness Event Takes Center Stage
On November 1, Alaska Pacific University (APU) senior Rachel Fritz walked to the stage to welcome the attendees of Mental Health Awareness Day. Fritz aimed to change how Alaskans talk about mental health. “The organization of today’s event means a lot to me, honestly. It means that this campus [APU] is putting mental health first….
APU Alum Simon Frez-Albrecht Talks Guiding at 20,310 Feet
How long have you been a guide? How long of that has been on Denali? I started my guiding career in 2012 as a canoe guide in Connecticut on the small rivers there, but I didn’t start doing any climbing or mountain guiding until 2014. I started guiding on Denali in 2015, as an apprentice…
Meet James Temte, APU’s New Project Manager
What does your role at APU entail? I like to think of my role as the “Sweeper” in soccer. I fill in where is needed as well as work on special projects. One of the projects I will be working on is to establish a research center at APU that helps to provide opportunities for…
FAST Lab Uses Drones, Community Outreach in Collaboration with Nanwalek village
Each summer, Alaska’s mature salmon turn on their internal homing devices and return to their origin waters to finish out their life journey. But as the number of reds returning to the waters near the Alaska Native village of Nanwalek continues to ebb, it’s also drawn the return of community collaborators: APU’s Fisheries, Aquatic Science,…
Meet Jessie Downes, APU’s New Director of Nursing Programs
Dr. Jessie Downes joins APU as the new Assistant Professor of Nursing and Director of the Nursing Programs. She is a registered nurse, and her graduate studies in nursing focused on healthcare systems leadership. Jessie brings clinical, management, and professional education/training experience in both public and Alaska Tribal health systems to our new programs. Most recently,…
