FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 25, 2000

Fairbanks, Alaska – H. Michael Babb, a vocational education administrator and criminal justice professional, has been appointed director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Northwest Campus in Nome by Ralph Gabrielli, executive dean of the College of Rural Alaska.

Most of Babb's professional experience comes from Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, Colo., where he began his career in 1985 as a faculty member in the criminal justice program and also chaired a statewide task force for common curriculum and articulation to senior education institutions.

Babb instructed cadets in the criminal justice program's Certified Police Officer Academy, which served Colorado, Utah and the Northern Ute Tribal Police. He also worked as an adjunct faculty member for several other community colleges in the Rocky Mountain region using his experience in law enforcement, criminal counseling and as a probation officer to provide real-life lessons for his students.

While at CNCC, Babb was appointed criminal justice department chair. Within two years of his appointment, Babb expanded the criminal justice program into the state's top field training experience.

His accomplishments led to Babb being named associate dean of occupational studies, where he was responsible for preparing program budgets, writing and implementing grants, and developing distance learning courses.

"These skills are definitely needed to meet the demands of UAF's rural campus in Nome," Gabrielli said, "and made Babb a standout for the director's position." It's the challenge of meeting those demands— plus a few sourdough tales of adventure from Nome's gold rush past— that drew Babb to the Seward Peninsula.

"The Northwest Campus is responsible for providing academic education and vocational training that people want in Nome and throughout the Bering Strait region," Babb said. "Even this early on, I am very impressed with the quality of the faculty and staff and am proud to join this team."

Babb holds a master's degree in criminal justice and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Arizona State University, and has completed all but his dissertation for a doctorate degree in curriculum leadership from the University of Denver. Prior to entering college, he also served three years in the U.S. Navy, earning a Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal and National Defense Medal.

Babb replaces retiring director Maynard Perkins, who worked at the campus for 15 years teaching everything from freshman biology classes to graduate education courses. Nancy Mendenhall served as acting Northwest Campus director following Perkins' retirement in 1999 and while a nationwide search for a permanent director took place.

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