2023 UAF LEGACY LECTURE
Honoring Distinguished Alumni

An Evening with MARY EHRLANDER   
Monday, June 5, 2023 at 7pm
BP Design Theater (401 Usibelli Engineering Building)
Lecture will be livestreamed.  Reception to follow. 

Mary F. Ehrlander was raised in Fairbanks and graduated from Lathrop High School. She completed a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Northern Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Mary continued her education at the University of Virginia, earning a second master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Government. In 2001 she was hired as assistant director of Northern Studies and assistant professor of History at UAF. She retired in 2020 and is Professor Emeritus of History and Arctic & Northern Studies at UAF. Mary is the author of numerous publications, including the books Walter Harper, Alaska Native Son, and Equal Educational Opportunity: Brown’s Elusive Mandate. She, along with Hild Peters, currently have a book in press: Hospital and Haven: The Life and Work of Grafton and Clara Burke in Northern Alaska (University of Nebraska Press, Fall 2023). She received the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award (2016) and the Alaskana Award for her book Walter Harper: Alaska Native Son (2017).

Mondays at 7PM. These events will take place at the BP Design Theater, located in JUB 401 in the JUB building on UAF Campus, located at 1764 Tanana Loop.

All presentations will be recorded and posted to the web following the live presentation.

The Fairbanks Tall Timber Series was created to honor those who have served the Fairbanks community well.  Join veteran newsman Robert Hannon either in person or via Zoom as he interviews these stalwart members of our community.  

6/12
Barbara Lando
Barbara Lando was born in New Jersey and earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics at Rutgers University. She came to Alaska in 1969 when she and her husband both accepted teaching positions at UAF. Barbara not only taught mathematics but was instrumental in starting the computer science program at UAF. She retired in 1990 as a UAF Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, Emeritus. After retirement, she became the Alaska State Director for Elderhostel and became interested in promoting a lifelong learning program in Fairbanks. Barbara had the vision and was the driving force behind UAF's now-established Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Recently, she helped establish Aging at Home Fairbanks, a membership organization offering support for older adults to live independently and engaged in their community.

 

 

6/19
Bev Byington
Bev Byington was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and graduated from Augustana College. She was a teacher/counselor in Minnesota before coming to Fairbanks in 1970. She met her first Alaskan friends, Liz and Bill Berry, when she volunteered at Techne Art and Craft Coop. She volunteered at Crisis Line and was a school counselor at Lathrop. Bev taught art, psychology, and sociology at West Valley and received a sabbatical to research study skills and motivation. She also worked at Ryan, Tanana, and Howard Luke Academy. She created a school focus program on being a successful student. Bev has volunteered at the Farmer's Market, Georgeson Botanical Garden, and the Fairbanks Drama Association. Over the years, she has shared her artistic skills with the community and, in 2022, helped paint street murals in downtown Fairbanks as part of a grant-funded initiative overseen by the Fairbanks Area Surface Transportation (FAST) Planning.

 

6/26
Theresa Reed
Theresa Reed is a retired music teacher, performer, theatrical costumer, and strong advocate for the arts. She and her late husband, Bill, helped found the Fairbanks Light Opera Theatre. She served on their board of directors at various times and was the stage director for many productions. Currently, she helps organize the very large FLOT costume collection, which is available for loan. Theresa was one of the original founders of Opera Fairbanks and served as the costume designer for most of their productions. She was on the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival board for 22 years. In 2006 she was named one of the Farthest North Girl Scout Council’s "Women of Distinction" and has received the Interior Mayors' Award for the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award twice. Directing the choir at Christ Lutheran Church, a weekly singalong at the Pioneer Home, and being a fill-in driver for Meals on Wheels helps fill her days.

 

7/10
Simon Rakower
Simon Rakower is Fairbanks' very own bicycle expert!  He grew up in New York and studied philosophy and linguistics at Columbia University.  Upon graduation he apprenticed with frame builder Francisco Cuevas, and returned to Columbia to study Chemistry.  From there he went to Schwinn Mechanics School and later studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  He became involved with The US Cycling federation in 1987 when he attended their mechanic certification clinic as well as their coaching clinic in 1990.  Since coming to Alaska, he has been the owner of Frameworks, All Weather Sports, and Wicked Wheels Fairbanks Technical Bicycle Services.  He uses his technical prowess to develop and run technical support program for Iditabike/Iditasport; designed and managed technical support programs for three Palotta Teamworks AIDS Vaccine Rides; developed and coached Junior Racing Cyclist Development Program, and he has taught bicycle repair clinics for bike shops, schools, UAF Outdoor program, UAF Summer Sessions & Lifelong Learning, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, scout groups and other youth organizations. 

 

7/17
Terry Reichardt
Terry Reichardt arrived in Fairbanks in 1972 when her husband, Paul, accepted a faculty position at UAF. Their first child was born a few months after their arrival. In addition to being a mom of three, homeschooling, and small-scale farming, Terry still found time to volunteer. She volunteered with the Northern Alaska Environmental Center (NAEC) and was the board president and Temporary Acting Director. She was a founding board member of the Alaska Conservation Foundation. After her children started attending Pearl Creek Elementary School, Terry started Love INC., which she ran for 16 years. She volunteered at the Literacy Council and developed an adult reading program at First Presbyterian Church. She has shared her passion for vegetable gardening by teaching classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UAF and the First Presbyterian Church. She currently enjoys co-leading a small group Bible study with Paul and occasionally helps him with the weekly meal program he runs at First Presbyterian Church for anyone wanting fellowship or food.

 

7/24
Wendell Shiffler
Wendell Shiffler is a retired high school science teacher who (with his wife Judy) moved to Fairbanks in 1968 for what they thought was a two-year commitment. 55 years later, they still call Fairbanks home. In 1981 he was named the Alaska Biology Teacher of the Year. Wendy retired from teaching full-time in 1990. He was an adjunct instructor in the PE Department at UAF for 10 years. In 1970, Wendy started volunteering with the Alaska Arctic Winter Games and was involved in every volunteer role, from making beds in the athlete village to Chef de Mission for Team Alaska in 1992. He continued his involvement with the Arctic Winter Games by serving on the AWG International Committee for 20 years as Secretary and retired from the AWG International Committee as Vice President in 2014. Wendy developed the Outdoor Experience Program through the FNSBSD. He volunteered for the ARCO Jesse Owens Games, the Fairbanks Food Bank, FNSB Trails Advisory Committee and is a former Presbyterian Hospitality House board member.

 

7/31
Ron Inouye
Ron Inouye is a retired University of Alaska Rasmuson Library database editor. An Alaska and Arctic history enthusiast with broad interests, he co-authored Alaska's Japanese Pioneers and was the 2013 Contributions to Literacy in Alaska Award recipient. He is known as an educator, historian, activist, author, and musician and is a board member of the Tanana-Yukon Historical Society, College Rotary Club, Friends of the UA Museum of the North, and Golden Heart Community Foundation.

 

 

 

 

8/7
Tom Buntzen
Tom Bundtzen is a Research Geologist and avid mining historian based in Fairbanks, Alaska. He graduated with both BS and MS degrees in Geology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. After retiring as Senior Economic Geologist for the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Survey (ADGGS), Tom formed Pacific Rim Geological Consulting, Inc. Tom and his staff have worked throughout Alaska, the Yukon, and the Russian Far East on a diverse group of geological projects. Tom has been active in the Alaska Miners Association, and in 1997, Tom and others formed the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation to honor Alaska’s mining pioneers.

 

 

The Fairbanks Tall Timber Lecture Series  is made possible by a generous contribution from Explore Fairbanks.

Tuesdays at 7PM. These events will take place at the BP Design Theater, located in JUB 401 in the JUB building on UAF Campus, located at 1764 Tanana Loop.

All lectures will be recorded and posted to the web following the live presentation.

6/6
Improving Alaskans' Health: Statewide and "In Your Neighborhood"
Anne Zink, MD, Alaska's Chief Medical Officer and Mishelle Nace, MD, Pediatrics Specialist

 

 

 

6/13
Making Sense of Hearing Health in 2023
Lily Hughes, AUD, Audiologist

 

 

6/20
Forgetfulness: When Should I be Concerned?
Scott Luper, ND, Naturopathic Physician

 

 

 

 

6/27
A Systematic Approach to Considering a Cancer Diagnosis in 2023
Andrew Cox, MD, Oncologist

 

 

 

 

7/11
The Art of Simulating Health Disasters and the Science of Response
Lori Gilbertoni, RN

 

 

 

7/18
Aging in Place: A Plan for  "The Future You" in Fairbanks
Beth Grey, Project Manager, Aging and Disability Resource Center, Fairbanks Senior Center

 

 

 

7/25
Senior Living Choices in Fairbanks As We Age
Vickie Wilson, Former Director, Division of The Alaska Pioneers Homes

 

 

 

8/1
Determining Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Romel Wrenn, MD, Cardiologist

 

 

 

 

8/8
Lifestyle as Medicine
Sally Mangum, DO, Internist

 

 

 

8/15
A Whirlwind of Allergy: From Pollen to Pot Roast
Anthony Bonitatibus, MD, Allergist

 

Healthy Living Lectures are made possible by the generous contribution from Foundation Health Partners.

Photo by Klara Maisch.

Wednesdays at 7PM. These events will take place at the BP Design Theater, located in JUB 401 in the JUB building on UAF Campus, located at 1764 Tanana Loop.

All lectures will be recorded and posted to the web following the live presentation.

6/7
An Artist’s Journey
Da-ka-xeen Mehner, Professor of Native Art, UAF

 

 

 

6/14
Nuggets of Whimsy: Adventures in Northern Cartooning
Jamie Smith, Assistant Lecturer in Drawing, UAF

 

 

 

6/21
Far North Quilt Trail Project
Somer Hahm, Adjunct Instructor in Drawing, UAF

 

 

 

6/28
Why Scientists Might Want to Work with Artists 
Kes Woodward, Professor of Art Emeritus, UAF

 

 

 

7/12
Contemporary Mixed Media Methods
Madara Mason, Visual Artist and Director of the MIX, UAF

 

 

 

7/19
Painting On Location in Alaska: Landscapes in the Context of Change
Klara Maisch, Visual Artist

 

 

 

7/26
What is it About Art?
Scott Holladay, Adjunct Instructor in Sculpture, UAF

 

 

 

8/2
Denali Through Collodion Photography
Charles Mason, Professor of Photography, UAF

 

 

 

8/9
Crafting Community: Creative Community-Building in and Through the Arts
Jess Peña, Executive Director of Fairbanks Arts Association

 

 

 

8/16
Wood Burning Kilns and the Discovery of Glass
Jim Brashear, Professor of  Ceramics, UAF

Thursdays at 7 pm in the UAF Georgeson Botanical Garden
Welcome bands begin at 5:30 pm

Music in the Garden does not cancel due to weather. In case of unhealthy conditions such as smoke, Music in the Garden will be moved to the Regents' Great Hall in the Fine Arts Complex, UAF Campus. When raining, Music in the Garden will take place under the covered Rotary pavilion in the garden. Please call Summer Sessions at 907-474-7021 to check.

Parking is limited, attendees are encouraged to use a FREE shuttle that departs from the Nenana Parking Lot, located across from the Patty Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

5/25    Fireweed Fiddle (Welcome band: Steve Brown and the Bailers)
6/1    South Cushman Social Club (Welcome band: Ice Jam)
6/8    Fairbanks Community Jazz Band (Welcome band: Ice Jam)
6/15    Red Hackle Pipe Band (Welcome band: Ice Jam)
6/22    Emily Anderson (Welcome band: Ice Jam)
6/29    Cold Steel Drums (Welcome band: Ice Jam)
7/6    Dry Cabin String Band (Welcome band: Sourdough Rizers)
7/13   Jameson Effect (Welcome band: Badger Street Jazz)
7/20    Kinky Slinky (Welcome band: Michael Stackhouse & Diamond Fuller)
7/27    Serevende (Welcome band: WT Effington)
8/3    Headbolt Heaters (Welcome band: Ice Jam)
8/10    The ET Barnette String Band (Welcome band: Ice Jam)

For more information, or to make an accommodation request at least five days in advance of this event, please contact the UA HR Accessibility Team at ua-ada-accessibility@alaska.edu or by phone at (907) 450-8200.

Music in the Garden Concerts are made possible by the generous contributions of these sponsors:  SRS, 529 Alaska, Design Alaska, College Rotary, Toy Quest, Carpenters local 1243, Denali State Bankand the Georgeson Botanical Garden.