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Ask around at any private business or government agency dealing with wildlife in Alaska and you're likely to find more than a few UAF alumni working there. But there's something a bit different and special about a successful, community-based nonprofit founded and operated by a bunch of Nanooks.

Inspired by a bird observatory he'd seen Outside, Tom Pogson, '90, decided to start his own. Shortly after completing his master's degree at UAF, Pogson began capturing and banding birds around Interior Alaska. His graduate research had involved sandhill cranes in western Alaska, where he met biologist John Wright, '79, in Dillingham, where Wright worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. After Wright took a position with ADF&G in Fairbanks, he and Pogson discussed establishing the Creamer's Field Migration Station, a permanent bird banding station, at Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in Fairbanks. The station ran on a limited basis in 1991, and, in 1992, the Alaska Bird Observatory formally fledged.

ABO had close ties with UAF from the beginning. Dan Gibson, ornithology research associate and former bird collections manager at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, and alumni Bob Ritchie, '76, and Brian Cooper, '84, were instrumental in the initial development of ABO. Pogson relied on then UAF biology professor Ed Murphy, '76, for assistance with data analysis. Those early connections created lasting associations: both Gibson and Murphy, now a professor emeritus, are current members of ABO's scientific advisory committee, and Ritchie only recently retired from the board of directors.

Over the next few years, ABO thrived and added staff, education programs and research projects. In 1994, Pogson hired Anna-Marie (Barber) Benson, '00, to run the banding station. Benson became the first to use data from the migration station for graduate research at UAF.

ABO has pursued its mission to advance the appreciation, understanding and conservation of birds and their habitats through research and education for more than 17 years. Staff and volunteers may have migrated through the years, but ABO's nest is still full of Nanooks.

UAF is a good place to study tropical birds -- really

Now a research biologist at ABO, Dave Shaw, '06, arrived in the Interior in 1998 to run the inaugural season of a fall migration station at Camp Denali in Denali National Park and Preserve. After that experience, he was hooked. To earn his master's degree in wildlife biology from UAF, Shaw examined bird migration and species loss near Veracruz, Mexico. "UAF is a good place to study tropical birds because of Kevin Winker and the UA Museum of the North," says Shaw. Winker, the museum's curator of ornithology and a professor with the Institute of Arctic Biology, has studied tropical avifauna for the past 20 years, including conducting his own graduate research at the same site as Shaw.
 

Tell them a story

Stories are part of the reason Susan Sharbaugh, '97, was drawn to ABO after completing her Ph.D. at UAF. Sharbaugh wanted to study a small bird in a really cold place to learn how a small animal could stay active all winter in an environment that pushes it to its physiological limit. Black-capped chickadees were the perfect study subject: Are they built differently from chickadees elsewhere, which helps them survive the Interior's harsh winters? Do they do something different? (The short answer is that black-capped chickadees in Alaska aren’t different from other chickadees; they simply do things to an extreme.)

"I think it’s all storytelling," Sharbaugh says. "You don’t lecture at people; you tell them a really cool story. Everybody likes stories."

"People are pretty much put off by or afraid of science," says Sharbaugh. "But it's not that scary. And it's really, really cool."

Never a dull moment

Hard science and public education often mix and mingle at bird observatories, requiring the people who work there to be flexible in their roles. As ABO's senior scientist, Sharbaugh has her hands full with research projects, grant proposals and reports, and education and outreach.

Executive director

Anne Ruggles, '91, handles everything from day-to-day management of the organization to planning and implementing long-term goals and objectives. Ruggles attributes some of her multitasking skills to her time at UAF. "Because UAF is a small school, I could ask anybody about anything. A small school makes individual contact easier. It's the same at a small nonprofit; you have to ask and do everything."

Right in Fairbanks' backyard

Philip Martin, '83, is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist and president of ABO's board of directors. He is also an integral part of a new venture for ABO, the Creamer's Community Climate Observatory, which will expand ABO's mission to incorporate a more holistic look at climate change at Creamer's Refuge.

"If you think about what conservation issues birds face in Interior Alaska," says Martin, "climate change has to be right at the top. Climate change is hitting faster and in more fundamental ways here than in other parts of the country."

The project will measure environmental change at Creamer's Refuge and connect that with changes in bird biology. For example, how are birds affected by changes in when tree leaves bud or insects hatch, if at all? To study these questions, ABO will work with climate change researchers and permafrost specialists at UAF. ABO will also invite the general public to learn about the research, help collect data and discover more about their own environment.

"This will be a way for us to track changes right in people's backyards, right in the backyard of this community," Martin adds.

Alaska Bird Observatory

In our spring issue, we asked, "If your degree major differs greatly from your current career, what path did you take to get there?" Here are a few of your stories. It's not too late to send us yours and get a cool UAF poster. Send stories to aurora@uaf.edu.
 

Amanda Clinton '91, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Greetings!

I just finished reading my Fall 2009 "Aurora" and thought I'd go ahead and send in my response to the question about degrees and careers differing greatly.

I graduated from UAF in 1991 with a major in English and a minor in history. I love literature and had hoped to become a writer. In the interest of survival, however, I worked as a substitute teacher in the Anchorage School District for a year after graduation, and, since special education populations were particularly challenging and enjoyable classes to teach I applied for and garnered entrance to the Master's of School Psychology Program at the UW. A professor during graduate school recommended I continue studying and so I went ahead and explored options, ultimately specialized in neuropsychology and cognition as a doctoral student at the University of Georgia. My interest still was language, however, so I studied Spanish while in my doctoral program. The combination of psychology and language helped me earn a Fulbright Scholarship and Organization of American States Fellowship to Medellín, Colombia where I conducted my dissertation research on dislexia in Spanish speaking populations in during two year's time. A winding road led me to then work in children's hospitals in California and, more recently, violence prevention work in Iraq, Guatemala, and Nicaragua to, ultimately, earn a position as Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico where we are developing a doctoral program in psychology. (That said, I am currently considering going back to school and studying biochemistry!) The wonderful thing about life is how it offers so many surprises and opportunities! I've enjoyed my experiences across the globe but have to say there's still no place like home (Alaska!).

Pam Buckway '70, '73, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

It doesn't get any more convoluted than this!

I was a UAF graduate first as an associate in electronics technology, and then received my B.A. in speech with broadcast option. I spent 23 years as an announcer/operator with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s Northern Service in Whitehorse, Yukon -- using technical skills and broadcasting skills I learned at UAF. After that, I sold real estate for a couple of years, and was a politician for a few years (Minister of Highways, Minister of Community Services, Minister of Justice, etc.) in the Yukon government.

When my political party was unelected, I did administrative work at my church, and by chance was asked to do vacation relief in a couple of positions at the local hospital -- executive assistant and administrative assistant in the medical imaging department. That led to my current position as hospital claims assessor in the Yukon government's Department of Health and Social Services. I deal with all the other Canadian jurisdictions, and talk frequently with hospitals in Alaska. I love it! The medical knowledge and financial knowledge required have nothing whatsoever to do with electronics or broadcasting, but all my studies are a good base for my current career. I plan to retire in this position -- probably when I'm 75 because of the recession! I truly enjoy my work ALL day EVERY day. I finally got my amateur radio license after 35+ years of thinking about it, and my voice appears in public service announcements on the local radio stations from time to time, so I haven't forgotten my educational roots!
 

Michael Paul Combellick, '79, '82, Scottsdale, Ariz.

I received a B.S. in chemistry at UAF in 1979 and earned a private pilot's license. I worked for the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic specialist at the Fairbanks and Gulkana flight service stations. I returned to UAF and earned a B.S. in petroleum engineering in 1982, graduating in the first class of petroleum engineers. Oil prices collapsed at about the time I graduated, and I never found a job in the oil industry. Since shortly after leaving UAF, I have worked as a computer programmer on the Microsoft platform. Although I have used my engineering degree in my work as a computer programmer, I have never worked directly in the oil industry. I currently live in Arizona and work as a programmer for OSIsoft of San Leandro, Calif., working on the PI System. The UAF power plant uses the PI software to help monitor electricity production. This software is also used by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company to monitor the pipeline and by Tesoro at their Kenai refinery. One computer simulation course that I took my senior year at UAF with my teammates Gerry Foster and Brad Berg sparked my interest in computer programming. Though my academic achievements were modest, my UAF engineering education has been very helpful in my career. I frequently vacation in Alaska. I recently earned a commercial pilot's license and will soon return to Alaska to pursue a flying career.

Carilyn Ellis, '05, Portland, Ore.

I wouldn't say my story is weird or convoluted. Quite the contrary. It's very status quo -- except for the ending. I know of few undergrad psychology majors who actually stayed with psychology in their post graduation employment.

My first job outside of college was in the financial sector, a position won by my experience as a student assistant in the office of Student and Enrollment Services (thanks!). I stayed with that job and climbed the corporate ladder for 3 years only to bang my head on the ceiling of disbelief at how atrocious corporate America really is. At 26, I was working 12-hour days on salary and coming in weekends to draft retirement plans for IRS deadlines. I put in my notice, took a couple of weeks off to play (took a trip to Alaska of all places) and stepped down to a flexible hour, union job with my local community college as a student accounts rep. I winced at the pay cut but reveled at having time once again (of course I couldn't afford to do anything with it anymore).

I decided to go with the plan A that I had tossed to the wayside at the initial temptation of 50k-plus salaries and working in the hustle and bustle of downtown. I vamped up my volunteering, took the GRE and applied like crazy to grad programs in psychology. I just got accepted to George Fox University’s doctorate in psychology program. I will begin fall 2009.

To make a long, albeit pretty straightforward story short, I did a full circle from my undergrad. I graduated and worked in a sector that had nothing to do with my degree just long enough to decide that my degree was my passion in the first place. It's back to school and psych for me! Do I regret any of it? Absolutely not. Would I return to corporate America? Not if you put a gun to my head.

UAF alumni enjoy the nice weather and the game at an alumni association-sponsored Alaska Goldpanners baseball game. From left to right: board members Derek Miller, '03, and Randy Pitney, '72; Chancellor Rogers' wife, Sherry Modrow, '72, '85; and Joe Hayes, '97, association executive director.
 

Tania Clucas, '95, '08, clowns around with the Nanook mascot while welcoming UAF alumni to the game.

By Gail Phillips, '67

The UAF Alumni Association is pleased to take this opportunity to congratulate Chancellor Rogers. We feel that he did an excellent job as interim chancellor and are pleased that President Hamilton made his position permanent.

We would also like to express our congratulations to all of the 2009 graduates. The graduation ceremony was a heartwarming event. It is particularly rewarding to see the satisfaction and pride that family members have for their graduates. One of the guest speakers was Vic Fischer. Mr. Fischer was a member of the Constitutional Convention that gathered at the university, as Alaskans, to write a constitution for our new state. It was appropriate that as we are celebrating our 50th anniversary of statehood this year, Vic Fischer was able to address the graduating class in person and share some of the highlights of pre-statehood days.

In June, Summer Sessions featured an evening with Grace Schaible, a longtime advocate and supporter of the university. She is a UAF graduate and a community leader with many years of involvement in Alaska and the university. Folks who were lucky enough to be able to attend the evening discussion with Grace were truly fortunate.

The alumni association is planning an outreach trip to the Portland area later this year. Be sure to check the alumni webpage for dates and more information. We look forward to meeting with many of our West Coast alumni during this trip.

Thanks for supporting your UAF Alumni Association.

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