Advisory Councils

Jesse Tyrrell is a sophomore pursuing a degree in political science with a minor in emergency management and homeland security. He grew up in Anchorage and is a lifelong Alaskan resident. He became involved in the Honors College during his freshman year, participating in both the Climate Scholars Orientation and HSAC from the very beginning of his time at UAF.

Jesse loves being involved in both academic and non-academic activities on campus. He is highly involved in clubs such as Fencing, Badminton, Model UN, and ASUAF. He aims to engage fully and work diligently to make campus life as enjoyable as possible for students.

Abby is a sophomore Chemistry major minoring in mathematics. She joined the Honors College not long after being accepted to UAF and is beyond grateful she did. Abby heard about HSAC at the start of her first year, and was eager to check it out and get more involved in the Honors College. Through HSAC and Honors she’s had so many opportunities to volunteer and be a part of an awesome community. She is honored for the opportunity to be involved in a greater capacity this year as treasurer.

In her free time, she likes to read, scrapbook, hike, cross country ski, and play tennis. Outside of HSAC, Abby is a part of Chemistry Club and Chi Alpha.

Cassidy grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California and graduated from San Lorenzo Valley High School with honors. After living in small towns of 1,000 and 3,000 people for seven years, she decided to move away and applied to UAF. UAF was an affordable alternative to community college in California while still offering a smaller community and without compromising the proximity to nature that she was used to.

Cassidy was a second-year student at UAF majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology and was an Honors College RA. Cassidy became Chair of the Wellness Committee because she wants to create balance between mental health and wellness with the school and work lives of the honors community.

Cassidy passed away in the summer of 2025. She was steady, considerate, and truly passionate when it came to supporting students. She was a pillar of the Honors College community. Her light, laughter, and heart helped shape a culture rooted in care, real connection, and most importantly, love. That legacy will stay with us forever. Thank you Cassidy for your dedication and compassionate service to the Honors College.

Caden was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. They are currently in their fourth year at UAF pursuing a degree in biomedical sciences with a minor in history. Caden joined the Honors College to pursue a more in-depth understanding of their studies. Along the way, they found a community that inspired them to give back.

Caden enjoys rock climbing, crocheting, learning about ancient history, and traveling the world to experience new cultures and meet their friends. They are incredibly excited to help with orientation and hope to make it more accessible for disabled students.

Hayden is a fourth year student pursuing a B.S. in Climate & Environmental Change with a minor in creative writing. He joined the UAF Climate Scholars program during his first year, and got onboard with HSAC the following year.

Hayden grew up in Homer, Alaska, and outside of school he is an avid LARPer and video gamer. At time of writing, he is reading Stormlight Archive 5 and playing through his first game of Baldur's Gate 3.

Blake Brady is a senior majoring in Fisheries and Marine Sciences, with an emphasis on Marine Biology. She and her cat, Scrappy-Doo, moved here to Fairbanks from Texas in 2025 in search of a fresh start. Blake joined the Honors College the first day she was on campus, along with the Climate Scholars Program. This is also Blake’s first year with HSAC, and she’s really excited to be part of the team.

In her free time, Blake is an avid film watcher. Her top 3 are The Beach Bum, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Antichrist. As far as tv goes, Supernatural is by far her favorite show of all time. She also loves video games, with her most recent platinum trophy being for Ghost of Tsushima. She’s been getting outdoors a lot more too since moving to Alaska, with her most recent trip being the Climate Scholars Program Intensive canoeing from Eagle to Circle.