UAF photo by Eric Engman.
UAF alumni and friends gather and reconnect in the atrium of the UA Museum of the
North during the 2026 Nanook Rendezvous.
Imagery and photos courtesy of alumni unless otherwise noted. Information is courtesy of alumni and public sources.
Making waves across the English Channel
Abbey Jackson ’12
Abbey Jackson ’12, fisheries biology, added an extraordinary accomplishment to her lifelong relationship with the water this summer: On June 21, 2026, she completed a solo swim across the English Channel, traveling from England to France in 14 hours and 23 minutes.
Jackson’s journey to one of the world’s most challenging open-water swims began long before she imagined making the crossing. Unable to swim as a young child because of complications with her ears, she finally entered a pool at age 10 and quickly discovered a passion for swimming. She went on to become her hometown’s first female state champion in swimming before joining the UAF swim team.
At UAF, Jackson studied fisheries biology while swimming competitively for the Nanooks. After college, she stepped away from swimming for a time before eventually finding her way back to the sport. The English Channel, which had intrigued her since she first read about it at age 16, became a goal nearly three years ago. She trained extensively in pools and the cold lakes around Ƶ, including nighttime and long-duration swims, while balancing work and life in Alaska.
Jackson entered the water just before 3 a.m. on June 21. More than 14 hours later, she reached the French coast.
“I reached France and was still the same Abbey,” said Jackson. “I had simply found out that I could swim for a very, very long time.”
And she isn’t done yet. Jackson is preparing for a solo crossing of California’s Catalina Channel in September. If successful, it will complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, which includes the English Channel, the 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan and the Catalina Channel.
Leading Doyon Utilities’ finances
Margaret Hernandez ’13, ’25
>Margaret Hernandez ’13, B.B.A. accounting, ’25, M.B.A., has been named chief financial officer of Doyon Utilities. A lifelong Ƶ resident, Hernandez most recently served as CFO for Family Centered Services of Alaska and previously spent six years with Cook & Haugeberg, now Alliance CPAs, working with utility clients across Interior Alaska.
>Hernandez continues to share her expertise with the next generation as an accounting instructor at UAF and serves as chair of the board of Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union.
>In her new role, Hernandez will oversee financial leadership for Doyon Utilities, which provides utility services to military installations in Ƶ, Delta Junction and the Anchorage area
Margaret Hernandez
Jo Scott signs books at Barnes and Noble in Ƶ on Aug. 1, 2026.
Nearly a century of stories
Jo Ryman Scott ’90H
Jo Ryman Scott, who received an honorary doctorate from UAF in 1990, has published her memoir, “Almost a Century: Formerly The First Ninety Years.”
The book chronicles Scott’s remarkable life, from growing up on a South Dakota farm to living in an Alaska log cabin and teaching in classrooms around the world. Along the way, she weaves together stories of music, education, resilience and the experiences that shaped her nearly century-long journey.
Known to thousands through her popular Facebook writing, Scott brings the same wit and warmth to her memoir. “Almost a Century” offers a personal look at a life filled with adventure, learning and plenty of stories worth telling.
Read more from Scott and follow her “Almost a Century” journey on Facebook:
A legacy preserved in print
Neal Brown ’66, ’97H
The life and work of longtime UAF researcher Neal Brown ’66, M.S. geophysics, ’97H, are now preserved in his newly published memoir, “Northern Lights and Rocket Flights” (Springer, 2026).
Brown, who died in 2021, spent much of his career at UAF’s Geophysical Institute and served as director of Poker Flat Research Range. Before his death, he documented more than 1,100 memories, stories and recollections from his experiences during the pioneering years of the American space program.
The memoir chronicles Brown’s life and career, Alaska’s role in the early space program, auroral research and the history of Poker Flat. His longtime colleague Sue Mitchell, a former leader of the Geophysical Institute’s public information team and a graduate of UAF’s professional writing master’s program, worked with Brown’s family to bring his memoir to publication.
Northern Lights and Rocket Flights” offers a lasting record of Brown’s remarkable career and the people, places and discoveries that helped shape UAF’s role in space and auroral research.
Explore Neal Brown’s life, work and newly published memoir at .
The cover of Neal Brown’s posthumously published book features this photo of him pointing to an aurora.
Poetry earns international recognition
Panika M.C. Dillon ’05
Panika M.C. Dillon ’05, English, won the 2024 Bedford International Poetry Competition, adding an international honor to her growing body of work.
Dillon also has several upcoming publications, with poems appearing in Prairie Schooner, Blood Tree Literature and Casting Aspersions. In 2025, she received her first Pushcart Prize nominations for work published in The Gravity of the Thing.
A big year for the Baugh family
Jacob Baugh ’19
It’s been a big year for Jacob Baugh ’19, mechanical engineering, and his family. Baugh earned his professional engineer license, welcomed his first child, Chiara Rose, and was promoted to construction program manager for DLA Energy at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Christopher Holm ’02
Advocating for Californians
Christopher Holm ’02, B.B.A. business administration, is managing attorney at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a plaintiff-side law firm in Irvine, California. Holm focuses on personal injury and civil rights cases, advocating for clients seeking justice following serious injuries and other losses.
Christopher Holm
A career of service
Marc Aaron Smith ’16
Marc Aaron Smith ’16, B.A. political science, is building a career centered on serving Alaskans through law, military service and education. After being admitted to the Alaska Bar in 2024, Smith began practicing law in Ƶ.
He is also preparing to serve as a judge advocate officer with the Alaska Air National Guard at Eielson Air Force Base. This fall, he joined UAF Community and Technical College as an adjunct faculty member in the paralegal studies program.
Smith credits UAF with providing the foundation for these opportunities and remains committed to serving Alaskans through his profession, military service and teaching.
Finding purpose across Interior Alaska
Amy Hughes ’25
After graduating from UAF in spring 2025 with an A.A.S. in human services, Amy Hughes began a career with Tanana Chiefs Conference as a substance abuse prevention, treatment and aftercare specialist.
Hughes travels to communities throughout Interior Alaska served by TCC, working with people of all ages on substance abuse prevention and wellness. She says the opportunity to travel while making a difference has made the work especially rewarding.
“Not many people can say they genuinely love getting up and going to work every day,” Hughes says. “I am grateful to say that I do.”
Hughes credits her UAF education with helping lead her to a career she is passionate about and looks forward to seeing where it takes her next.
From the Frozen Four to Florida
Ryan Hohl ’11
Ryan Hohl ’11, communications and marketing, has plenty to be grateful for since his days as a Nanook hockey player. Hohl was part of the UAF team that advanced to the NCAA Division I Frozen Four in 2009, an experience he said made his time at UAF especially meaningful.
Today, Hohl lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, Chelsea, whom he married in 2024, and their Pomeranian, Queenie. Professionally, he serves as vice president of business development and strategic partnerships for a large multidisciplinary medical services organization, where he focuses on leadership, relationship building and developing strong team cultures.
In his spare time, Hohl enjoys Florida’s sunshine, whether on the golf course or at the beach. He credits his UAF education in communications and marketing for helping prepare him for his career and hopes to make it back to Ƶ someday with former teammates.
Until then, he sends a hearty “Go ’Nooks!”
A new chapter in veterinary education
Cord Brundage ’08, ’10
Cord Brundage ’08, M.S. biology, ’10, Ph.D. biological sciences, is bringing his UAF biology background to a new role as director of veterinary programs at Front Range Community College in Colorado.
Brundage is the college’s first full-time veterinarian to serve in the position, overseeing its veterinary technology and veterinary assisting programs and helping prepare the next generation of veterinary professionals.
After earning his graduate degrees at UAF, Brundage went on to earn his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University. His career has combined veterinary medicine, research and teaching, including faculty positions at Cal Poly Pomona and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
From studying biology in Ƶ to shaping the future of veterinary education in Colorado, Brundage has built a career at the intersection of science, medicine and teaching.
Leading with data
Gwendolyn Gruenig ’98, ’00
Gwendolyn Gruenig ’98, B.S. psychology, ’00, M.S. interdisciplinary studies in mathematical science, has been named chief data and analytics officer for the University of Alaska Foundation. In her new role, she leads enterprise data, analytics and advancement information services, helping shape how data supports fundraising, donor engagement and institutional impact across the UA system.
A lifelong Alaskan and proud UAF alumna, Gruenig brings more than two decades of experience in data strategy, analytics and institutional research. She previously served as director of data analysis and institutional research for the University of Alaska system, where she led statewide data strategy, governance, analytics, policy analysis and reporting.
Gruenig has also served as an adjunct faculty member in UAF’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics and owned a data science consulting practice serving researchers, businesses and nonprofits across Alaska.
Stepping into university leadership
Derek Miller ’03, ’11
Derek Miller ’03, B.B.A., ’11, M.B.A., is UAF’s new chief of staff, serving on the chancellor’s core cabinet and supporting universitywide initiatives.
A longtime UAF employee, Miller previously served as executive officer for the College of Engineering and Mines, where he advised the dean on fiscal strategy, operations and organizational management. His earlier roles at UAF included business office manager for the Institute of Northern Engineering, senior business analyst in the Office of Management and Budget and assistant to former Chancellor Brian Rogers.
Miller is also a former ASUAF president and student regent, bringing a long history of leadership and service to his new role.
Design work earns five honors
Emily Moretz ’22
Emily Moretz ’22, film, was recently recognized with five awards from College Sports Communicators for her design work in 2026. Moretz has held several roles at UAF since beginning her career here as a student graphic designer, most recently creating work for University Advancement, Nanook Athletics and the Ƶ community. Some of her designs may look familiar around campus and even at Ƶ International Airport.
Moretz began working for United Airlines in 2018 and now brings her love of travel and UAF together in her role as a travel coordinator, which she began in May.
Expanding research leadership
Todd Brinkman ’09
Todd Brinkman ’09, Ph.D. biological sciences, has been named a half-time associate vice chancellor for research at UAF. In the new role, Brinkman will expand his work in research development while continuing to direct the UAF Animal Resources Center alongside attending veterinarian Nina Hansen.
Brinkman will also continue serving as a professor of wildlife ecology with joint appointments in the Institute of Arctic Biology and the College of Natural Science and Mathematics. His career has focused on large mammal ecology and the human dimensions of wildlife science — experience that aligns well with his expanded research leadership role.
In memoriam
View a list of alumni and friends whose passage has been shared with us since the previous issue of Aurora.