The UA Board of Regents met at UAA in May for a multi-day meeting focused on stability, student success and workforce partnerships. More photos from the week in the thread below.
This week, Tommy Sheridan, Director of ABEC at @uafairbanks College of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences, testified before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, & Fisheries on the future of the blue economy and Alaska’s coastal communities. youtube.com/live/e64WgntSqpU…
Did you know two @uaanchorage engineering students from Bethel won first place at the Arctic Innovation Competition at @uafairbanks?
Former @ANSEP_AK students Drini and Vjosa Pellumbi took home $15K for their Arctic Heat Recovery System.
👇alaska.edu/news/did-you-know…
ALT Two students stand on stage at a podium labeled "Arctic Innovation Competition." They face an audience, with presentation boards and a backdrop displaying logos visible behind them. A speech bubble reads "DID YOU KNOW?" and a caption below highlights their first-place win. The scene is set in a formal event environment.
ALT Five people stand in front of a blue backdrop with logos, smiling and holding a large check for $15,000 addressed to Drini and Vjosa Pellumbi. Two of them, a young girl in a red sweater and a young man in a black shirt, wear medals and hold certificates. Text below reads, "The Pellumbi twins took home $21,000, including the $15,000 top prize and three $2,000 awards."
ALT Blue and yellow trophies resembling LEGO bricks stand in a row, each topped with a small toy figure. The front trophy is labeled "Fan Favorite 2026" with a logo resembling a gear. To the right, blue ribbons are laid on a table. Overhead, white text reads, “We wanted to focus on an issue that directly affects many families in rural Alaska.” Photo credit: Sarah Lewis.
The University of Alaska has selected Col. Russell Vander Lugt, Ph.D., a UAF alumnus and 20-year Alaskan, as the next @uafairbanks chancellor. He joins September 8, 2026.
Full details: alaska.edu/opa/enews/2026/05…
ALT A man in a gray plaid suit, light blue shirt, and blue tie smiles warmly in a portrait. The background is a blurred outdoor scene with trees. The words "NEWS" appear in the top left corner. Logos for the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Alaska are in the lower corners.
The UA Board of Regents honored President Pat Pitney and Interim @uafairbanks Chancellor Ambassador Mike Sfraga at their final meeting of the academic year this week. Both retire this month.
Full details: alaska.edu/opa/enews/2026/05…
ALT Top image: A group of people sit around a boardroom table with papers and laptops. A woman labeled Pat Pitney speaks, with two men beside her and an American flag in the background.
Bottom image: A man in a suit stands presenting in front of a large screen displaying a historical photo. The photo shows a person with sled dogs in a snowy landscape.
New grant funding is now available for students entering PWSC’s Marine Service Technology & #Millwright programs. Eligible students may receive tuition fee coverage, with possible housing support available as well. Hands-on training. Alaska careers. bit.ly/4dcy4Vx
Did you know nearly 3,500 of UA students just crossed the stage at commencement ceremonies across Alaska?
Explore the ceremonies👇
alaska.edu/news/did-you-know…
ALT A graduate, smiling widely, holds a blue diploma folder with a gold emblem at a commencement ceremony. The graduate wears a unique hard hat and a blue stole, standing in front of a blurred background of attendees and colorful flags. A text overlay reads, "Nearly 3,500 UA students just crossed the stage at commencement ceremonies across Alaska." A speech bubble in the top left asks, "Did you know?"
ALT A graduate in a cap and gown smiles while holding up a black graduation cap decorated with glittery gold letters spelling "I DID IT!" and surrounded by star shapes.
ALT A group of four people, including two graduates wearing green and yellow flower leis and stoles labeled "BSN," pose closely together. They are smiling widely, and many people are visible in the blurred background. The photo is being taken by someone in the foreground, partially visible holding a smartphone.
In 2014, Warren Hayes was a first grader who won a $25,000 Alaska 529 scholarship account. This spring, he graduated from Chugiak High School with that account grown to more than $50,000 and a spot at UAF to study Mechanical Engineering.
Full story: alaska.edu/opa/enews/2026/05…