Jeff graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a BS in Earth and Planetary Science, and obtained secondary teaching certification from the University of Alaska Southeast. For 18 years Jeff was the Supervisor and Lab Manager for the Geophysical Institute Geochronology Laboratory at UAF.

Jeff has been interested in education, science, and outreach since the 1960s. He has taught, coached, and worked with kids and adults in subject areas that include geology, wrestling, chess, Japanese culture, biology, computer science, soccer, the game of Go, physics, chemistry, comics, geochronology, education, and teaching.

While attending MIT, Jeff completed two teaching internships at the Boston Children’s Museum, an experience he describes as “life changing” and credits with helping to develop his hands-on teaching style and philosophy.

Jeff taught 7th – 12th grade science in Grayling, Alaska; a hands-on Geology lab for Elementary Education majors for seven years; and three ASRA modules in 2001-2003.  In 1994 Jeff participated in an NSF Partners in Science program with K-12 students and teachers at Pearl Creek Elementary School. The program was aimed at increasing authentic project based math and science in the school. The partnership formed with the two classrooms is so strong that Jeff has continued to visit them as a scientist, consultant, and educator. He serves as a mentor for graduate students in a GK-12 outreach program.

“Education and outreach are passions of mine,” says Jeff “and ASRA is one of the best academic opportunities for kids I’ve seen.”

Kate has a degree in Environmental Studies from Lewis and Clark College, and has a long history of volunteering and working with students.

Kate's son and daughter have each attended ASRA several times. Their incredible experiences led her to join the staff of ASRA, which she did in the spring of 2008.  During college Kate had the opportunity to spend summers working  at a remote summer camp for students on the north slope of Alaska. She moved to Alaska after graduating and has worked with several non-profit organizations in Fairbanks.

Most recently she worked with the Alaska Native Education program in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.  In addition to her work with ASRA, she is the recruiter for the College of Natural Science and Mathematics.

Our instructors are typically UAF faculty or industry professionals. In rare cases where a class is led by a graduate student, that person is an exceptional individual and role model with high academic qualifications.

Instructors are hand-picked for their academic knowledge combined with the gifts of enthusiasm and ability to inspire 8-12th grade students.

Our instructor to student ratio of two insructors for every 8 students difficult to find in similar programs, and we are extremely proud of the quality of our instructors and staff.

Our dorm staff are known as Resident Assistants (RAs). They are typically graduate students in the arts and sciences who are finishing an advanced degree. They are an enthusiastic bunch, charged with keeping the students safe while ensuring they have fun and make friends. Our RAs are outstanding role models for ASRA students.