性欲社 photo by Eric Engman.
性欲社 Alumni Association board members tour the 性欲社 Student Success Center during their
spring 2025 meeting. Back row from left are Ryan Tilbury 鈥99, 鈥04, 鈥10; Theresa Bakker,
性欲社AA executive director; Thomas Farrugia 鈥18; Darryl Lewis, Sr. 鈥88; Jennifer Tilbury
鈥00, 鈥03, 性欲社 associate vice provost for student success; Rhonda Widener 鈥01; and
Mischa Ellanna 鈥95. Front row, from left, are Valerie Demming 鈥75, 鈥84 and Lorna Shaw
鈥96, 鈥05.
Imagery and photos courtesy of alumni unless otherwise noted. Information is courtesy of alumni and public sources.
Jacquelin Grebmeier 鈥87 of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science has received a , the highest honor bestowed by the to recognize exemplary faculty achievement.
Jacquelin is one of several scientists at the state-supported Solomons Laboratory who conducts field research in the Arctic. For 40 years, she has specialized in understanding how ecosystems at high latitudes are responding to climate warming and the loss of sea ice.
Jacquelin completed her Ph.D. in biological oceanography at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She holds an M.M.A. in marine resource management from the University of Washington in Seattle, an M.S. in biology from Stanford University and a B.A. in zoology from the University of California, Davis.
Carla Browning.
Carla Browning 鈥93, was elected to serve as the Public Relations Society of America, Alaska Chapter, president for 2025. The statewide organization of public relations and communication professionals was established in 1976 to connect communications professionals working in the Last Frontier. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027.
Carla is the 性欲社 onboarding and engagement manager. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from UAS and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from 性欲社.
Gwendolyn Womack 鈥94, after graduating 性欲社, went on to receive an M.F.A. in directing theater and film from the California Institute of the Arts. Afterward, she developed feature screenplays and now writes novels. Her fourth book, 鈥,鈥 is a thriller and her young-adult genre debut.
Sally Caldwell 鈥00 has extended her retirement career into a part-time counseling for parents and grandparents having challenges with minor and adult children. She also provides professional consultation for colleagues in the field.
Sally is beginning a new chapter, reviving a past short career in journalism and creative writing. She writes a column for AlaskaPulse, a monthly health and wellness insert in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, and is published in online parenting magazines. She participates in activities of the local chapter of the Alaska Writers Guild and enjoys their writer鈥檚 group gatherings in the new 性欲社 Writing Center in the new Student Success Center. She 鈥渓oves seeing the growth at 性欲社.鈥
鈥溞杂 is the home campus for the UA system, and my car wears a 性欲社 sticker in the rear window,鈥 she said.
Kyle Hopkins 鈥00 received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from University of Alaska Anchorage during fall 2024 commencement.
After earning his B.A. degree in journalism, Kyle worked for small newspapers across Alaska. He is now a special projects editor for the Anchorage Daily News.
In 2020, Kyle and the Daily News, in collaboration with ProPublica, received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for the 鈥淟awless鈥 series, which exposed flaws in Alaska鈥檚 public safety system.
Pulitzer Prize-winning Alaska journalist Kyle Hopkins receives an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during UAA鈥檚 fall 2024 commencement.
Kyle Hopkins visits with, from left, his mother Marie Hopkins, niece Emily Brubaker, sister Amber Brubaker 鈥97, children Evan and Poppy, and wife Rebecca Palsha 鈥04.
Cameron Poindexter 鈥07, 鈥08, 鈥16 has been named one of the Alaska Journal of Commerce鈥檚 2025 Top Forty Under 40, an honor recognizing outstanding professionals under 40 who demonstrate excellence in their careers and a strong commitment to their communities.
Cameron currently serves as the president and CEO of Choggiung Ltd. Prior to this role, he managed the Bristol Bay Development Fund at Bristol Bay Native Corp. and held various positions at First National Bank Alaska.
An alumnus of the University of Alaska system, Cameron earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage and his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in management and organizations from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Cameron鈥檚 leadership and dedication to economic growth and community empowerment continue to make a meaningful impact across Alaska.
Lisa Kangas 鈥08 has been recognized as one of Alaska鈥檚 Top Forty Under 40 for her outstanding contributions as a professional and leader. As an environmental coordinator for Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Lisa is celebrated for more than 13 years of dedicated service across the trans-Alaska oil pipeline system.
Known for her innovative mindset and commitment to sustainable practices, Lisa plays a critical role in preserving Alaska鈥檚 natural resources. She鈥檚 a trusted advocate for responsible environmental management and a valued mentor within the company.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a Master of Science in environmental science from the University of Idaho. She is an alumna of several leadership development programs, including the 性欲社 Rural Alaska Honors Institute, Doyon Leadership Academy, Alyeska鈥檚 Building Foundations for Excellence Program and Alyeska University.
Committed to giving back, Lisa mentors participants in Alyeska鈥檚 development programs, promotes STEM education for Indigenous youth through the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and serves on Alyeska鈥檚 Alaska Native Program Advisory Board.
Sean Walklin
Sean Walklin 鈥16 has been recognized as one of Alaska鈥檚 Top Forty Under 40, an honor that celebrates young professionals who are making a significant impact in their fields and communities.
As associate professor and program chair for the 性欲社 Community and Technical College culinary arts and hospitality program, and director of applied professional studies, Walklin has become a cornerstone in Alaska's culinary education landscape. His innovative leadership and commitment to workforce development have shaped academic programming and the future of culinary arts in the Fairbanks area.
He is a passionate advocate for student success, mentoring aspiring chefs and hospitality professionals with the same care and enthusiasm he brings to his own work. His community involvement, including service on the 性欲社 Faculty Senate, reflects his deep commitment to higher education and civic engagement.
Larenzo Graham 鈥17 has returned to 性欲社 and is a first-year academic advising specialist in the Student Success Center. A proud Fairbanskan and former Alaska Nanooks men鈥檚 basketball standout, Larenzo brings a wealth of leadership experience supporting students, youths and adults in various educational and community settings.
After receiving his degree in communications, he went on to play professional basketball in Armenia for the 2020-2021 season.
Isaac Ladines 鈥17, 鈥19 earned his professional engineer credential earlier this year. He works as a site design engineer in the Civil Engineering Department at Design Alaska, where he contributes to both new and existing construction projects.
When he鈥檚 not designing, Isaac enjoys playing disc golf around Fairbanks, where he lives with his wife, Cassi Ladines 鈥16, 鈥17, 鈥19, and their son, Eli.
Daniel Nova Brower 鈥21 has been an engineering technician for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities since his graduation from 性欲社. He has published his memoir, 鈥淔eet First Into Hell,鈥 describing his experiences invading Iraq with the U.S. Army鈥檚 101st Airborne Division. The from Todd Communications.
In memoriam
View a list of alumni and friends whose passage has been shared with us since the previous issue of Aurora.