Fall 2026

From the chancellor

Dear UAF community,

I step into my role as UAF’s 12th chancellor with an overwhelming sense of optimism and excitement for our shared future, built upon our cornerstones of academic excellence, groundbreaking research and deeply rooted community service.

Leadership transitions are opportunities for change and strategic visioning. As we contemplate our next chapter, we must remain focused on what makes UAF unique among higher education institutions: We are boldly empowering the next generation to transform the Arctic, in the Arctic. This is not merely a catchy phrase; it reflects the reality of our geographic position in a rapidly changing world and the fact that understanding the Arctic requires experiencing the Arctic.

As the world increasingly turns its attention to the circumpolar North, UAF becomes the centerpoint for all things Arctic: leading in academics and research, partnering with Indigenous leadership, driving Alaska’s economy, and developing the next generation of Arctic scholars and practitioners. None of this occurs in a vacuum. It happens because alumni like you choose to engage and empower by partnering and investing in the future of UAF and the state of Alaska.

That’s why your giving means so much to UAF. ÐßÐßÊÓƵ to UAF is more than dollars; It's investing in our future. It’s the scholarship that keeps a hard-working student and future Arctic leader on their pathway to success. It’s the community grant that turns a research question into a real-world solution for rural Alaska. It’s an alumnus investing in the next generation of Alaska’s Arctic leaders. Every gift has a purpose and achieves a goal. Each builds momentum and grows UAF.

My approach to leadership boils down to three simple tenets: transparency, trust and teamwork. I intend to build real, lasting relationships with our alumni, Alaska’s businesses and communities, our tribal partners, and friends across the globe. We achieve far more when we stand together with a shared vision.

Returning to lead my alma mater is the privilege of a lifetime. My time at UAF began as a graduate student in 2007. My spouse and children are also alumni. As UAF now looks to the 2030s and beyond, I invite you to join our Arctic journey. Thank you for everything you do to keep UAF reaching higher. 

Ad Summum! To the summit!

Respectfully .

Russell Vander Lugt, ‘10, ‘22
Chancellor
ÐßÐßÊÓƵ
America’s Arctic University