Charlene Stern named rural, community, Native education VC

Dec. 7, 2021

— by Chancellor Dan White 

I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Dr. Charlene Stern to serve as UAF’s vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education (VCRNE) effective Jan. 2, 2022. As the VCRCNE, she will oversee the College of Rural and Community Development and the Community and Technical College.

Vice Chancellor Stern has been serving as interim VCRCNE since Jan. 3, 2021. Prior to that, she worked for six years as an assistant professor in the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development and received tenure and promotion to associate professor in spring 2021. 

Charlene has proven over the last year that she is the right person to lead UAF’s rural, community and Native education division into the future. Her commitment to rural and Native students is unparalleled.

Charlene is originally from Vashrąįį K’ǫǫ (Arctic Village) and is an enrolled member of the Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American cultural studies from Western Washington University, a master’s degree in community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in Indigenous studies from UAF. 

UAF has two additional vice chancellor positions in interim status, both with active recruitments — the vice chancellor of student affairs and enrollment management (VCSAEM) and the vice chancellor for research (VCR). The VCSAEM is a merger of the former vice chancellor for student affairs (VCSA) and associate vice chancellor for enrollment management. This recruitment is currently under review by the search committee, led by interim VCSA Ali Knabe. The VCR search committee, led by Professor Mat Wooller has nearly finished the recruitment process, with the second of two on-campus interviews held Nov. 30. Both searches are expected to be complete around the new year.

Please join me in congratulating Charlene.