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Photo courtesy of Wayne Donaldson.
Wayne Donaldson '80 and his daughter Mary Feldt '08 pause at the top of Pillar Mountain on Kodiak Island to celebrate ������'s centennial in November 2016.

By Katie Straub

Wayne Donaldson didn’t come to Alaska with a grand plan. He arrived with a one-way ticket, a few bags and an open mind. Nearly five decades later, he’s being recognized with the William R. Cashen Service Award for his exceptional volunteer contributions to ������ and its alumni community.

Donaldson, who earned his biology degree from ������ in 1980, built a distinguished 35-year career with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and served for years as a quiet force behind the ������ Alumni Association’s growth. 

“I didn’t think what I was doing was anything special,” he said with a chuckle during a recent video interview from his home in Kodiak, Alaska. “But apparently, I made an impression on somebody.”

Finding his way to Fairbanks

Donaldson grew up in New England and was attending community college when a newspaper clipping changed his life. His sister-in-law, then living in Kodiak, mailed him an article about ������ recruiting students amid a post-pipeline enrollment dip.

“I was adventurous,” Donaldson said. “It just seemed to fit. So I applied, and bingo, it all worked out.”

He landed in Fairbanks in 1976 with little money and no real idea what to expect. But the welcoming orientation, open dorms and new experiences — from cross-country skiing to intramural basketball — quickly helped him settle in.

Science had always appealed to Donaldson, and ������ gave him hands-on opportunities. He worked at the Institute of Arctic Biology and interned with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, which sparked his interest in fisheries.

“My first job out of college? I was a dog catcher in Anchorage,” he said with a laugh. “You took whatever you could.”

Soon he was working salmon seasons across coastal Alaska — from Chignik to King Cove. In the latter, he met Mary, his future wife. They married and eventually settled in Kodiak, where he took on increasing responsibility within ADF&G.

“I was lucky to manage both shellfish and finfish,” he said. “Most biologists stick to one. I enjoyed the challenge.”

Weathering change and crisis

Donaldson’s career spanned major ecological and technological changes. He saw firsthand how warming seas shifted Alaska’s marine balance from shellfish to finfish. He managed fisheries during the fallout from the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

One standout memory came during a helicopter-based salmon survey.

“We ran out of fuel and had to land in the middle of nowhere,” he recalled. “There were six of us and two sleeping bags. We drew straws — I got lucky. The other guys had to sleep in survival suits.”

Other experiences were quieter but equally meaningful.

“Spending time on the docks talking with fishermen gave me perspective,” he said. “Fisheries aren’t just about economics — they’re about identity and survival.”

A steady hand at the alumni association

As Donaldson’s professional career flourished, he remained closely connected to ������. He joined the ������ Alumni Association board in 2011, eventually serving as vice president and treasurer.

“I put together spreadsheets to track budgets and expenses,” he said. “We started meeting regularly with our investment advisor and built in real accountability.”

He believes alumni voices matter, and that starts with staying involved. He developed tools still in use today, including a budgeting guide nicknamed “Wayne’s book.” Former ������AA Executive Director Kate Ripley credited his leadership with growing the alumni investment fund from $300,000 to almost $1 million.

“He avoided drama and got the job done,” Ripley said.

Even after his board term ended, Donaldson remained active on the finance committee, helping to ensure long-term sustainability for ������AA programs and scholarships.

For Donaldson, giving back is a natural extension of the life ������ helped him build. His children are alumni. His grandson is now a student.

“������ gave me the tools to be successful,” he said. “Supporting the university is a way of giving back to my adopted state.”

Fellow alumni board members describe him as calm, thoughtful and mission-driven. Former President Mary Beth Loewen said his presence helped guide the association through complex decisions and build momentum for growth.

“His commitment mirrors the exemplary standard set by Bill Cashen himself,” she wrote in a letter nominating Donaldson for the award.

A legacy of leadership and mentorship

Donaldson’s influence also extended through his mentoring of young biologists and his collaborative approach to resource management. Denby Lloyd, former ADF&G commissioner, praised Donaldson for balancing community needs with conservation.

“There are many biologists who have benefited from Wayne’s tutelage and example,” Lloyd said. “He earned respect from fishermen, scientists and policymakers alike.”

Donaldson now serves on the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, where he supports ongoing research into the long-term effects of oil exposure on marine life.

“It’s a reminder that prevention is always better than cleanup,” he said.

Despite his accomplishments, Donaldson remains grounded.

“For me, the award is acknowledgment that what I contributed mattered,” he said. “And that it’s stood the test of time.”

To current students and young alumni, he offers this advice: “Start building your career. Pay attention to detail. Work hard and you’ll be successful. If you’re educated in-state, you’re connected to Alaska in a way that matters.”

After all these years, ������ is still at the heart of Donaldson’s story. His success wasn’t driven by grand ambition, but by quiet integrity, steady service and deep appreciation for the place he chose to call home.

And through it all, he hasn’t lost his sense of humor, or perspective.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff,” he said with a grin. “And it’s all small stuff.”

Katie Straub is the alumni storytelling manager for ������ Development and Alumni Relations.