I am Sam. Sam I am. But I prefer my eggs and ham plain.

Sam comes from a small town in central Indiana where he developed a wide array of interests from archery to musical theater. Their undergraduate career involved several transfers, before finally finishing a degree in Music Performance and Composition at the University of Indianapolis. They spent several years teaching privately while also directing a community orchestra focused on uplifting local and student composers. They later attended Ball State University to complete a M.A. in Music, before transitioning to other interests. In 2022, they spent the year traveling full time across the lower 48, and eventually made their way to Fairbanks, where they fell in love with the climate and lack of sunburn. They are excited to start this next chapter helping students at UAF find their passion and further education.

In their free time they enjoy baking, hiking, Irish folk music, a dry sense of humor, video games, the Oxford comma, and solitary confinement. They also have a pet quaker parrot that loves to be the life of any party, and will interrupt any conversation to scream into the void. They are excited to be in one place again, and look forward to traveling and exploring in the summer months.

Vicky did not think about attending college until well into her adult life. As a nontraditional low-income student, she often struggled with school/life/work balance. However, along with these challenges she also found a community and sense of belonging in academia. With this support, she was able to graduate with an undergraduate double major in English and Russian with a minor in Ancient Greek. Her experience drives her to support students in the ways she was supported, and to help students find their own path to success–even if it doesn't look like anyone else's.

Vicky moved to Alaska to earn her master's in English and to escape the Texas heat ten years ago. She loves the snow and never wants to feel hot again. The winter darkness gives her a good excuse to play video games or board games with friends, and the long summer days offer opportunities for outdoor adventures around the state. Another activity that she will always find time for is disability advocacy. Currently, Vicky is earning another master's degree from the School of Education at UAF.

Carrie was born and raised in Western Washington. Her first visit to Alaska was as a 19-year-old when she started working seasonal jobs at remote fly-fishing lodges near Aleknagik and Lake Iliamna. She loved it so much that she returned every summer throughout college. Carrie earned a BS degree in Geology while playing centerfield on a softball scholarship at Central Washington University.

Soon after graduating, she moved to Fairbanks in 1999 and eventually worked as a geologist with the Alaska Division of Geology & Geophysical Surveys while her husband completed graduate degrees in geology from UAF. She moved with her husband to California in 2005. Carrie and her family returned to Fairbanks in 2020 after many years of wanting to move back to this interesting community. She has recently moved back to California with her family and is enjoying her role as a virtual advisor for our group.

She loves spending time with her family in the outdoors hiking, running, exploring and she personally enjoys photography, cooking, playing soccer, knitting, singing, and writing.

Kelly grew up in the middle of the Lower 48 – just about in the center of Kansas.  She got her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education for Speech/Theatre and English from Emporia State University.  After several years working with grades 6-12, Kelly took a short break from education to get a Master’s degree in English, also from Emporia State University.  She transitioned to higher education in 2020, working in the Office of International Education at Emporia State University in Kansas.  She has always enjoyed helping students succeed and is excited to be a part your academic support.

In her spare time, Kelly and her husband enjoy cooking together, going for hikes/walks, and playing disc golf recreationally.  Kelly also enjoys jogging and Marvel movies.  She and her husband share a love of cold weather and are excited to experience Alaska in all its beauty!

Cassie was born and raised on the Kenai Peninsula in Nikiski, Alaska. She started her college education at the Kenai Peninsula College and, after receiving her Associate of Arts and getting married, moved to Fairbanks in 2012 to continue going to school. In 2018, she graduated with her B.A. in Elementary Education. 

During her time at KPC and UAF, she worked in the learning centers and focused mainly on supporting students in math and study skills. After graduating, she started teaching study skills courses at CTC for success in math courses, college, and after college. In 2022, Cassie joined the Academic Advising Center as a first year advisor and is excited to work with students beginning their college career! 

Both Cassie and her husband fell in love with Fairbanks and decided to stay instead of moving back to Kenai. When not at work, Cassie enjoys spending time with her friends, family, her four cats, and dog. She enjoys reading fantasy novels, gaming, playing Magic and other similar games, fishing, agate hunting, attempting to garden, and enjoying the outdoors.

Iris was born in Southern California and raised in Southeast Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology with a minor in Ocean and Coastal Resources. She then moved to Alaska to attend UAF. As a graduate student at UAF, she taught the Genetics lab (BIOL F260L) and studied sedge ecology. 

After completing her Masters Degree in Biological Sciences, she wanted to help students complete their degree at UAF! She worked at Student Support Services, helping first-generation, low income students navigate college as their academic advisor. Currently, she is pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Scientific Teaching and Outreach and a Certificate in Culinary Arts at UAF. 

She spends her time after work at hot yoga or powerlifting. Being from Southeast Texas, she loves to smoke meat and cook southern comfort foods!

Anne grew up mostly in the Boston area and completed her BA in Sociology and Anthropology at Carleton College in Minnesota. She entered her undergraduate career certain she wanted to study abroad, although uncertain where. Then a summer volunteering in China changed her life. Ironically, she ended up running out of time to do an academic study abroad program, partially due to developing an addiction to Chinese classes. One thing led to another and she ended up working as the coordinator of that life-changing volunteer program, then moved to China to teach English, and eventually completed a Masters in Teaching Chinese at Xiamen University in southern China.

Six years into living in China and finally ready to consider returning to the US, Anne noticed that Denali National Park was looking for a Mandarin-speaking intern, and in early 2019 moved to Alaska. After spending a few winters in Fairbanks during the seasonal park ranger off-season, she finally decided to make it her year-round home. Outside of work she enjoys hiking and gardening in the summer, cross-country skiing in the winter, and relaxing with her cat, partner, and a good book or movie year-round.

She is very excited to support you on your study away journey and hear about all the amazing places it takes you!

Gabrielle was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and earned a B.A. in history from Yale University in 2022. Following graduation, she came to Fairbanks via the Alaska Fellows Program, an organization that connects young professionals with high-impact nonprofit or public sector work opportunities in the 49th state. In her spare time, Gabrielle enjoys reading comic books, listening to movie soundtracks, needle felting, downhill skiing, and playing the viola. She is thrilled to be at UAF and can’t wait to experience her first Fairbanks winter!

Michael was born in California, but is from all over having lived in New Mexico, California, Hawaii, Texas, New York, Okinawa, and Alaska. He came to UAF to pursue his Bachelor's in Biology. Aside from brightening people's days, he enjoys swimming in rivers, ethnobotanical studies, meditation, and oriental cooking.