Opinion: UAA improves solutions for the future of Alaska’s Arctic

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Alaska’s largest university is taking a big step in the Arctic. The University of Alaska Anchorage promotes leadership in strategic solutions, public policy research, and developing future leaders. We are excited to share how UAA is becoming North America’s leading institution in Arctic policy and leadership.

Alaska is at the heart of America’s Arctic frontier, and UAA is honored to actively contribute to our nation’s security. This month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is launching an exciting new partnership with our university. UAA will host a new Homeland Security Center of Excellence. Our university’s Arctic Domain Awareness Center will begin a new chapter as ADAC-ARCTIC, one of only nine DHS Centers of Excellence nationwide. This innovative partnership will bring millions of dollars in new funding to the UAA for cutting-edge national security research and the development of future Arctic and other northern region leaders.

Arctic security can change rapidly, and the UAA’s strategic position is an asset to our nation. UAA’s location in south-central Alaska puts it in the center of Alaska’s economic, military, and transportation activities. ADAC-ARCTIC combines UAA expertise with security agencies such as the Coast Guard, FEMA, and Customs and Border Protection. We will work on issues such as cybersecurity, crisis management, and maritime security. The center bridges basic science with strategies for preparedness and community resilience. UAA partners with America’s best talent to strengthen national security, create solutions for today, and prepare leaders for tomorrow.

With the recent arrival of the late Sen. Ted Stevens’ papers in their new home at the UAA/APU Consortium Library, this Alaska-sized collection will change the way we share our state’s history. Much more than a box of records, the Ted Stevens Collection is a window into policy decisions in all areas that helped build our state. These records will serve as catalysts to inspire future generations of students and Alaska’s leaders. Ted Stevens’ collection and archives from more than 130 other Alaska business, community, and political leaders make up UAA’s Alaska Leaders Archive. The lessons learned and the stories yet to be told through the Alaska Leaders Archive further advance the UAA as the leading center for public service and policy in Alaska, where tomorrow’s leaders in Alaska and the world learn from the leaders of Alaska’s past. You will benefit from your inheritance. Together, we will tell Alaska’s story and strengthen civic engagement and leadership for Alaskans.

Beyond what is possible with ADAC-ARCTIC and UAA’s Alaska Leaders Archive, our university remains focused on creating solutions for people in the Arctic. UAA’s world-class faculty conduct research focused on real-world northern problems and short-term solutions, making UAA a trusted community partner in Alaska and across the Arctic. Policymakers and businesses are turning to UAA to address their most pressing challenges. From engineering and infrastructure to health, economics, education and aviation, UAA is on the cutting edge.

Energy companies partner with UAA to combat problems such as corrosion and enhance oil and gas production. At Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, UAA works with the Ted Stevens Arctic Security Center to help the military manage land and resource assets across the Pacific Rim. UAA researchers are helping develop technologies to safely mine rare earth metals needed for a variety of everyday uses. Lawmakers are calling on the UAA to synthesize and analyze science and data to shape laws and policies. UAA’s Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) has served as Alaska’s think tank for decades.

Our university believes that Alaska’s future is driven and guided by our students’ curiosity, passion, and belief in a brighter tomorrow. UAA is on track to become North America’s premier institution delivering policy solutions that meet the needs of Alaskans and develop the world’s future Arctic leaders. UAA is honored to build an ecosystem of opportunities and achievements that advance solutions that address Alaska’s most pressing challenges. Please join us.

Sean Parnell He is president of the University of Alaska Anchorage and served as Governor of Alaska from 2009 to 2014.

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