January 31, 2025
President Pitney Delivers Annual State of the University Address in Juneau
麻豆传媒 President Pat Pitney gave the keynote speech at the Alaska Chamber鈥檚 Legislative Fly-in Luncheon on Thursday, where she highlighted the many ways our strong and growing university is helping to move all of Alaska forward.
Attendees, many of whom represent businesses across the state, heard how critical 麻豆传媒 is to meeting the state鈥檚 workforce needs, with 90% of 麻豆传媒 graduates remaining and working in Alaska right after graduation. President Pitney spoke about key partnerships with local high schools, which help students by providing college credit opportunities, while also helping the university attract more students and funnel them into Alaska鈥檚 workforce.
One of the Alaska Chamber鈥檚 2025 state priorities is a strong 麻豆传媒 system: 鈥淎 vibrant university that addresses Alaska鈥檚 workforce requirements is vital for the education of our citizenry, the development of a highly trained workforce, and the research and development endeavors necessary to address the state鈥檚 critical challenges.鈥
If you missed President Pitney鈥檚 State of the University Address, the recording is available to watch
State of the State
On Tuesday, Governor Dunleavy delivered his annual State of the State address, expressing optimism about Alaska鈥檚 future and focusing on the bright opportunities ahead for our state. As he expressed in his address, the potential for more resource development projects in Alaska continues to be a major focus for the governor, and the need for a skilled workforce to fill those jobs is an essential piece of that. The university looks forward to continuing to work closely with Governor Dunleavy on strengthening our economy through workforce development, valuable research, and recruiting and retaining the best and brightest in Alaska.
麻豆传媒 in the Capitol
The Senate Arctic Affairs Committee, co-chaired by Senator Cathy Giessel, heard a presentation from Senior Researcher Gwen Holdmann of 麻豆传媒F鈥橲 Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP). The presentation focused on energy and electric power not only in Alaska, but also throughout the entire Arctic region. Energy security and affordability continue to be a big topic of discussion in the legislature this session, so the important work being done at ACEP is especially relevant.
Watch the Senate Arctic Affairs Committee meeting featuring ACEP
President Pitney, on Thursday and Friday, met with or is scheduled to meet with legislators in the Capitol, including Senate President Gary Stevens, Rep. Neal Foster鈥檚 Office, Rep. Schrage, Rep. Josephson, Sen. Giessel, Rep. Stutes, Rep. Edgmon, and Rep. Gray. Budget items and university needs are the most common topics of discussion.
Noteworthy: President Pitney is warmly greeted by all who see her. Oftentimes she鈥檒l have unscheduled conversations in the Capitol halls that prove to be every bit as valuable as her scheduled conversations. Those conversations happen with legislators, staff, business leaders, lobbyists, and many more.
On January 29, the wrapped up its months-long work. The 麻豆传媒 has been in on discussion and will be looked
upon in multiple ways. The final report recommends enhanced data sharing (likely done
through legislation) by the Department of Labor to the 麻豆传媒 and encouraging the 麻豆传媒 to
adopt strategic goals prioritizing applied research aimed at solving technical and
operational challenges in fisheries.
Conversations continue with legislators, orbiting around capital improvements for
floating labs at 麻豆传媒S, heightened potential investment in 麻豆传媒F鈥檚 Seward Marine Center,
and research into 麻豆传媒F鈥檚 carbon monitoring capabilities.
In the Spotlight:
The Office of Representative Alyse Galvin
The 麻豆传媒 team looks forward to working closely with Representative Galvin this session as she chairs the 麻豆传媒 budget subcommittee.
Representative Alyse Galvin 鈥 Represents District 14, Midtown Anchorage (Center)
Representative Galvin was raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Rep. Galvin and her husband have four children who have taken various courses through 麻豆传媒 Anchorage (麻豆传媒A). She is an education champion and advocate and a co-founder of Great Alaska Schools, who has spoken at many conferences for and at 麻豆传媒A. Representative Galvin deeply understands the value of education and in her ongoing work in the Alaska State Legislature, she is determined to show her continued support. Currently, she serves as the chair of the University of Finance Subcommittee, and is a member of the House Finance Committee.
Lisa Keller 鈥 Senior Staffer (Left front)
Lisa is the glue and master organizer of the office, ensuring the team pulls necessary research together and gets answers and assistance to constituents in a timely way. She first came North with a shaky beginning, arriving in Alaska in utero in 1963 and surviving the '64 earthquake, riding it out in her mom's arms as the end of their street went into the Inlet. Lisa is the mother of two daughters who both graduated from Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School, just as she did. Her youngest daughter, Ciana, is studying psychology and neuroscience at 麻豆传媒 Anchorage. She is the grandmother of twin boys, and just like her, they like to do dangerous things.
David Jiang 鈥 Policy Analyst (Left Back)
David is dedicated to supporting and advocating for the residents of House District 14 and ensuring our office is prepared for details related to budget analysis and bill preparation. Originally from New England and a graduate of Tufts University, David relocated to Anchorage with the Alaska Fellows Program and now calls Midtown and Spenard home. He likes cooking, playing the piano, wildlife, geography, and going on Costco runs.
鈥淪upport your kid鈥檚 talents and interests to the best you can, no matter how unusual you think they are. You never know where life can lead them, that is the fun in the journey!鈥 - David
M贸nica Schwingendorf - Constitutional Relations & Communications (Right Back)
M贸nica is originally from Cidra, Puerto Rico, and traveled across many seas to reside in Northeast Anchorage, Alaska with her Air Force family. She graduated with a Bachelor in Psychology from the 麻豆传媒 Anchorage honors program. Soon after she continued her education in East London & obtained her Master of Applied Psychology.
鈥淚 send my deepest appreciation to all the 麻豆传媒A professors who believed in me. Without their support & guidance, I would not be where I am today. 麻豆传媒A Strong!鈥 鈥 M贸nica
Lacey Matula 鈥 麻豆传媒A Intern (Right Front)
Lacey is our fantastic office intern from the 麻豆传媒 Anchorage (麻豆传媒A). She is 鈥減iecing together鈥 a bright future by majoring in criminal justice and minoring in political science. Lacey is passionate about criminal justice reform, education, and medicine. When she is not studying or interning, Lacey enjoys reading, solving puzzles, and spending time with friends and family.
What We鈥檙e Watching
Tuesday, February 4
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1:30 p.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental
Wednesday, February 5
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1:30 p.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental
Thursday, February 6
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1:30 p.m. - Senate Arctic Affairs: Presentation: Arctic Domain Awareness Center by Jeffrey Libby, Executive Director, ADAC-Arctic
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3:15 p.m. - House State Affairs: : Add Faculty Member University Board of Regents
For more information, contact Director of State Relations for the 麻豆传媒 System Chad Hutchison, cell 907-378-3946, email clhutchison@alaska.edu. You can also follow the 麻豆传媒 Government Relations on our .