CNSM Celebrating Excellence Awards 2020-2021
Above and beyond
The College of Natural Science & Mathematics has a stellar team that demonstrates a commitment to excellence by way of quality service and meaningful achievements.
Dean Kinchel C. Doerner is pleased to recognize the following student award recipients, and faculty, staff and student achievements:
Outstanding Students
Biological Sciences: Sage Robine This year, I am graduating with a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology. For my four years at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, I was also a member of the Women’s Ski team training 15 hours per week and traveling across the western United-States for ski races. I have also done research with Dr. Kristin O’Brien, working on characterizing metabolic changes in threespine stickleback fish in response to temperature. I have also worked with Dr. Jason Burkhead at UAA over the summer of 2019 and I plan to return to his lab for more lab work this summer. I am excited to continue to pursue a career in research while also enjoying the outdoors through skiing, running, biking and rock climbing. A big thank you to my mentor, Kristin O’Brien, and all the people involved in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ skiing which brought me to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. Go Nooks!
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Chemistry: Lahra Weber I am a Chemistry student with concentration in Biochemistry and just graduated with
my B.S. |
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Geography: Eleanore Mearns Originally from Northern Idaho, I sought out my degree in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ to have hands-on experience in a region that is heavily affected by climate change. For the past three years, I have seen how melting permafrost and declining sea ice affect communities and studied how it will continue to do so. After completing my degree in Geography, I hope to use my skills to further progress our scientific understanding of climate and weather, through modeling and forecasting. Through my education, I have developed a love for programming and cartography, which I hope to utilize daily. During my undergraduate career at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, I pursued outdoor-oriented hobbies such as rock climbing, hiking, and skiing. My love for the campus has allowed me to pursue positions as Student Ambassador, Orientation Leader, and Resident Hall VP. |
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Mathematics: Lida Zakurdaew Hi, I’m Lida! And I am so flattered to have been named the Math Department’s Outstanding
Undergraduate Student this year. |
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Geoscience: David Harvey David is a proud gay, first-generation, and non-traditional geophysics student in the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Dept. of Geosciences. Since his childhood, when he would spend hours watching videos and reading books about volcanoes, David knew he wanted to become a volcanologist. He grew up in Oregon and spent his summers camping and hiking around the Cascades, developing a strong sense of curiosity for the natural world. David transferred to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ from Peninsula College in 2019 after being awarded a generous scholarship from the Biomedical Learning and Student Training (BLaST) program. Support from the BLaST program allowed him to begin researching volcanoes as an undergraduate with ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Professor and ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Volcano Observatory scientist Dr. Jessica Larsen. He will continue studying ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñn volcanoes with Dr. Larsen at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ in Fall 2021 while working toward a Master of Science. Beyond research and academics, David enjoys exploring the outdoors in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, perfecting his fried chicken recipe, and binge-watching old seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. He would like to thank his friends, chosen family, partner, professors, and mentors for all their invaluable support during the past four years. |
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Physics: Morgen Crow Hey, I'm Morgen Crow. I'm here studying math and physics, but I do plenty of other stuff, like rock climbing (indoors and outdoors), running, and skiing. Climbing's been a love of mine the past couple years, and running and cross-country skiing have been in my life since middle school. Besides that, I like to keep up with politics, listen to music (I'm talking the close-your-eyes kind of music listening), and watch movies and anime with my best friends. This summer, I'm doing physics research full-time, so wish me luck. Next year, I'll be graduating with a double major and looking ahead, future to be determined. If I had to be inspired, it would be by anyone with goodwill towards humanity: scientists, doctors, and civil rights advocates. Increasingly, I've come to appreciate the importance of community at every scale, and people advancing that are examples to us all. |
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Wildlife Biology & Conservation: Alexandria Sletten Hi, my name is Alex Sletten and I am graduating this semester with my undergraduate in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. I first moved to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ in 2014 while I was in the military. I immediately fell in love with the state’s landscape and wildlife and this changed my whole academic and career trajectory. I enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking, and fishing. Any chance that I can get to be outdoors and appreciate nature, I seize. I currently work as a College Intern I with the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Department of Fish and Game’s Arctic Marine Mammal Program here in Fairbanks. As a result, I have come to enjoy working with marine species and wish to continue this work. I hope to enroll in a master’s program at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ in the coming semester with a project to explore the prevalence of micro-plastics found in digestive tracts of marine mammals. |
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Statistics: Victoria Wetterhall Victoria is a senior at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, with plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in Fall 2021. She was born and raised in North Pole, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. Victoria is an accomplished musician as well as a mathematician. She’s been a valued member of the Fairbanks Youth Symphony, West Valley High School band, and ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Wind Symphony. She’s had the prestigious opportunity to travel and perform throughout multiple countries in Europe, as well as Carnegie Hall in New York. Victoria’s original intent was to pursue a career in music. However, she decided to pursue mathematics instead after rediscovering her love of math while taking Functions for Calculus at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. Her passion is statistics, especially statistical modeling. She loves statistics because not only does she get to do math, she also gets the opportunity to learn about a variety of different fields while helping others solve their problems. She loves to be challenged and welcomes any opportunity to help others. Victoria hopes to one day go on to a career in statistical consulting or data analytics. |
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Natural Resources & Environment: Will Samuel Will is a lifelong ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñn who has a passion for the outdoors. His inspiration for this field of study developed when he worked as a guide, traveling through the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñn backcountry. He then moved to work for the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Department of Fish and Game while finishing his degree. He split his time between the Natural Resource Management and Fisheries programs at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, concluding with a Senior Thesis research project. This research focused on evaluating the effects of a stream restoration in Cripple Creek near Fairbanks, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. After graduating with his B.S. in May of 2021, Will plans to pursue a M.S. degree in Fisheries. He is currently the Vice President of the Midnight Sun Fly Casters, a local sport fishing and conservation group. He is also a volunteer Training Chief for the local Wilderness Search and Rescue Team. |
Departmental Awards:
Biology & Wildlife Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Assistants:
Stephanie DeRonde
Robert Williams
Brina Kessel Medal for Excellence in Science
David Harvey
During this unprecedented pandemic year we recognize the deep sacrifices our faculty
have made to serve our students. In keeping with that, we recognize all faculty as
Outstanding Faculty for Academic Year 2020-2021. Thank you and keep up the good work.
—Kinchel C. Doerner
CNSM Dean
Faculty Promotion
Biology & Wildlife: |
Physics |
Veterinary Medicine |
Emeritus
Carmen Nicole ²Ñö±ô»å±ð°ù²õ, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Emeritus
Curt Szuberla, Associate Professor of Physics, Emeritus
Ranier Newberry, Professor of Geology, Emeritus
Thomas Kuhn, Professor of Biochemistry & Neuroscience, Emeritus