ACTING NORTHWEST CAMPUS DIRECTOR NAMED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2002

Fairbanks, Alaska – College of Rural Alaska Executive Dean Bernice Joseph has named Margaret (Peggy) Wood as acting director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Northwest Campus. H. Michael Babb, Northwest Campus director since January 2000, remains on administrative leave from the college.

Babb and another Northwest Campus employee, David Csiki, were placed on administrative leave Feb 1, 2002, at the onset of a personnel investigation by the university. Csiki’s employment has been terminated, effective today, March 6, an action that is subject to review in union grievance proceedings. Dean Joseph noted that the university’s review with respect to Director Babb is continuing, and that the review will follow required and appropriate procedures.

Dean Joseph and Wood, who is also the director of UAF’s Bristol Bay Campus in Dillingham, are in Nome this week to meet with groups and individuals in the community.

"I’m pleased that Dr. Wood has agreed to take on an additional leadership role within the College of Rural Alaska," said Joseph.

"Her extensive experience in delivering higher education to rural and Alaska Natives is highly regarded throughout the state. We have important partnerships in the Nome region. I’m confident that Director Wood will help us move the campus forward as we build on our partnerships within the college and with the community."

Wood has been the Bristol Bay Campus director since 1987. She received her master’s and doctorate from the University of Oregon.

"I’m glad to be giving back to the campus that provided so much direction and support to me when I first came on board with CRA 25 years ago," Wood said. Last year, four of UAF’s College of Rural Alaska campuses – Bristol Bay, Chukchi, Northwest and Kuskokwim — along with the University of Alaska Southeast campus in Sitka received $9 million in federal education grants for career training programs in health and business, land and resource management and financial aid advising. The Northwest Campus is responsible for providing academic education and vocational training to respond to the needs of the people in Nome and throughout the Bering Strait region.

CRA geographically serves nearly two-thirds of the state of Alaska, representing more than 160 primarily Native Alaska communities. UAF’s extended campuses include Northwest (Nome), Kuskokwim (Bethel), Bristol Bay (Dillingham) and Chukchi (Kotzebue), and the Interior-Aleutians and Tanana Valley campuses both in Fairbanks. CRA also oversees the Center for Distance Education, the state’s Cooperative Extension Service and the Department of Alaska Native and Rural Development.

-30-

CONTACT: UAF Senior Public Information Officer Debra Damron (907) 474-7581 or by e-mail to debra.damron@uaf.edu

DPD/3-06-02/02-049