Theresa came to Alaska in 1992 to work for the summer in the Valdez fishing industry
and never left. She fell in love with the state's rich landscape and culture, but
it was the people and their authentic stories that caused her to stay. Her passion
for telling stories has led her through careers in journalism, marketing and development.
Before accepting her position as the executive director of the University of Alaska
Fairbanks Alumni Association, Theresa served as the marketing and communications manager
at the University of Alaska Museum of the North. She first came to Fairbanks in 1996
to work for as a producer for KUAC, the public broadcasting station owned and operated
by UAF. She has also worked as a journalist for a variety of print and broadcast media
across Alaska. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of
Pennsylvania and a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from Pacific Lutheran
University.
Theresa is an avid knitter, who enjoys hiking, swimming and walking in downtown Fairbanks,
where she lives with her husband, UAF alumnus Jeremy Smith, and son, Owen.