Kate Ripley, ’11 MA

Alumni Relations Director/Executive Director of the UAF Alumni Association

Kate Ripley is a UAF alumna and lifelong Alaskan. She came to the university as Public Affairs Director of the University of Alaska System in November 2004. Prior to that, she had 15 years of professional experience in journalism, strategic communications, public relations and marketing. 

Kate serves as Alumni Relations Director within the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and as Executive Director of the UAF Alumni Association, a separate non-profit with a rich, 87-year history of collaborating with the university to connect alumni back to their alma mater. In her dual role, Ripley is responsible for alumni outreach, support and events and works closely with the association’s 12-member Board of Directors. With 30,000 alumni across the globe, UAF alums continue to have tremendous impact not only in Alaska, but also throughout the nation, the Arctic and the world. Kate is honored to help lead efforts to engage UAF alumni with “America’s Arctic University” and Alaska’s first university.

Kate was born and raised in Juneau and is an eighth-generation Alaskan of Russian and Aleut heritage. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, Alaska Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists and Rotary Club of Fairbanks. She also serves on the City of Fairbanks’ Clay Street Cemetery Commission.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Montana and a Master of Arts in Northern Studies at UAF. She is married to UAF Journalism Professor Brian O’Donoghue and has three children: Rory, Robin and Rachel.

Amanda Straight

Membership and Event Coordinator

Amanda has led a nomadic life. Born in West Virginia, she came to Alaska 15 years ago as a “military brat,” and was left behind as her parents and sisters started a new adventure elsewhere. Poor Amanda, yay Alaska! Amanda has thrived in Alaska, earning her associate degree in applied business from UAF and being a super mom to three curious and wonderful children. Her family has since grown when she met the man of her dreams and his two sons.

Amanda joined the UA Foundation as gift manager in 2013, and was quickly promoted to the fund & gift service manager. Amanda moved to UAF Development and Alumni Relations in July of 2015 as the Membership and Events Coordinator.

Mathew Carrick

Alumni student intern

Mathew Carrick is a current UAF student in his senior year, pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics, with minors in Mathematics and Statistics. He has been working as a student intern for the UAF Alumni Association since May of 2015.

Mathew also serves as President of the Associated Students of UAF student government, a member of the UAF Master Planning Committee, a Student Ambassador, an Orientation Leader, and a participant of many different clubs and committees across campus.

Mathew enjoys working at the Alumni Association because of his passion for history. He enjoys learning as much as possible about the University of Alaska’s story, and the Alumni office is the perfect place to do so!

After graduation, Mathew will leave the state to attend graduate school, but plans on returning to Alaska to start his own business.