2022 Faculty Initiative Fund Awardees
Dr. Heather Batchelder, Associate Professor, University of ƵSoutheast
Co-Investigator: Dr. Ginger Blackmon, Associate Professor, University of ƵAnchorage
Co-Investigator: Dr. Krista James, Assistant Professor, University of ƵAnchorage
Co-Investigator: Tara Maltby, MA.Ed., BCBA, Assistant Professor, University of Alaska
Fairbanks
Co-Investigator: Dr. Hilary Seitz, Professor, University of ƵAnchorage
Abstract:
Project SHINE (Supporting High Impact, Culturally Responsive Instruction within Natural
Early Literacy Learning Environments) aims to support the workforce development need
for qualified personnel
prepared to provide high impact, culturally responsive, early literacy instruction
to Alaska’s emergent readers some of whom may be at-risk for developmental delays,
have identified disabilities, and/or have
experienced generational trauma. Increasing the awareness of the importance of culturally
responsive early literacy interventions from the district level to the teacher/paraprofessional
in the classroom is
imperative as the state and nation expand early intervention services for young children.
Project SHINE goals include: 1) Increasing the number of qualified personnel prepared
to provide high impact, culturally responsive early literacy instruction for Alaska’s
emergent readers. 2) The development of a plan for an inter-university course, course
sharing and course rotation focused on; culturally responsive literacy instruction
in early childhood (university undergraduate level course/professional development
course for pre and in-service teachers/school leaders across the state). 3) Dissemination
of high impact culturally responsive early literacy interventions statewide.
Award: $30,000
PI: Carrie Aldrich, Assistant Professor of Writing, University of ƵAnchorage
Co-PI: Dana Greci, Professor of Developmental Education, University of ƵFairbanks
Sarah Kirk, Professor of Writing, University of ƵAnchorage
Jay Szczepanski II, Assistant Professor of English, University of ƵSoutheast
Jennifer Tilbury, Associate Professor of Developmental Education; CTC Director of
Student
Success and Instructional Support, University of ƵFairbanks
Abstract
The goal of this Tier I Faculty Initiative Fund proposal is to connect faculty members
involved in placing students into first year writing across the University of Alaska
system. Writing was the first discipline to align course prefixes across the state,
and placement reform is now underway in different forms across the state. Because
corequisite and other studio support models have in the past decade emerged as best
practices for student success in first year writing, this is an important time for
those involved in writing placement to join together to share our successes, challenges,
and visions for the future. This project
aligns with the university mission, impacts every student who enters the University
of Ƶsystem, and has important implications for improving student success and
addressing equity gaps. In order to offer
equitable access to higher education, the University of Ƶneeds a system of placement
that takes into account our students’ diverse needs, experiences, and abilities.
Award: $30,000
Kristen Gorman, PhD (Principal Investigator). Research Assistant Professor. College
of Fisheries and Ocean Science, University of ƵFairbanks
Douglas Causey, PhD (co-I). Professor. Department of Biological Sciences, University
of Alaska
Anchorage
Veronica Padula, MS (co-I). Research Development and Education Director. Ecosystem
Conservation Office, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, St. Paul, Alaska
Abstract
The support of a Tier I, six-month project to be conducted May through October 2022
that is designed as a pilot investigation into the spatial foraging behavior of two
species of seabirds that nest at St. Paul Island,
Alaska. The proposed project would be a first official research collaboration between
investigators at the University of ƵFairbanks (UAF, Gorman), University of Alaska
Anchorage (UAA, Causey), and the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island (ACSPI) Tribal
Government (Padula). Further, project funds will support a foundational experience
for a UAF undergraduate researcher to assist with fieldwork.
Importantly, the data produced by the project would be a feature component of subsequent
proposals to extramural funding opportunities. Our research team is broadly focused
on advancing knowledge of Bering Sea seabird response to environmental change by considering
new parameters not incorporated in past studies such as detailed spatial foraging
information based on GPS- and geolocator-tracking of seabirds, which is critical information
for our ACSPI Tribal Government partners who have a strong interest in Indigenous-led
management of the marine waters surrounding the Pribilof Islands. The proposed project
addresses criteria outlined in the UA FIF RFP regarding 1) inter-university collaborations,
2) scholarly endeavors and student engagement, 3) start-up funds to help develop extramural
grant proposals, and 4) community partnership.
Award: $29,700
PI: Dr. Getu Hailu (UAA), Co-PI: Dr. Sunwoo Kim (UAF)
Abstract
The American Lung Association “State of the Air” report found that Ƶhas some
of the worst air quality in the nation. The situation is expected to worsen. As the
Arctic thaws, new economic opportunities, such as tourism, resource exploration and
new shipping routes will be created. With increased transportation, increase in emission
of air pollutants such as particulate matter and greenhouse
gases is expected. As glaciers melt, black carbon is exposed and released to the atmosphere.
Swelling temperatures and increasing amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere create favorable
conditions for increased pollen seasons, and increased amount of pollen produced.
Frequent wildfires and dust from gravel/dirt roads in Ƶare another source of
air polluting particulate matter and gases. Consequently, the air quality in the Alaskan
homes will be adversely affected, resulting in poor indoor air quality (IAQ).
Because people spend up to 90% their time indoors, the health and economic concerns
associated with poor IAQ are enormous. There is mounting evidence that exposure to
poor IAQ is the main cause of allergies, hypersensitivity reactions, airway infections,
and even cancer. This project will contribute to the maintenance of good IAQ for Alaskans
by determining (a) the fundamental mechanisms of pollutant
movement and dispersion in indoor environment; (b) testing appropriate air filtration
technologies; (c) testing effective ventilation methods; and (d) developing guiding
procedures for maintaining good IAQ.
The project will bring together researchers from UAA and UAF and ƵNative Tribal
Health Consortium (ANTHC).
Award $29,950
PI: Yongwon Kim
Eugenie Euskirchen
Masahito Ueyama
Abstract
Boreal forests cover 17% of the planet’s land surface area in a circumpolar belt of
the Northern Hemisphere. This region is vulnerable due to rapid climate and environmental
change. Boreal black
spruce forests are a significant reservoir of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and
play an important role in protecting discontinuous permafrost. Stem respiration of
black spruce is a critical, yet poorly
understood, component of forest ecosystem carbon cycle dynamics. It is, therefore,
necessary to study variability in stem respiration at different time scales, especially
the response of the temporal variation in stem respiration to climatic factors. However,
because stem respiration of black spruce is commonly measured only during the growing
season, the non-growing season stem respirations do not represent the annual average,
and the contribution to the ecosystem respiration (Re) estimated by eddy covariance
tower in interior Alaska. Furthermore, considering that abrupt and rapid climate change
in Alaska, a year-round measurement of stem respiration would provide crucial information
on stem respiration and its contribution to surface carbon budget and ultimately,
climate change in Alaska. In order to investigate the phenological characteristics
and quantitative assessment of stem respiration, this project will obtain hourly stem
respiration measurements using a forced diffusion (FD) system in a boreal black spruce
stand in interior Alaska. The research site is located within the footprint of eddy
covariance tower operated by
Drs. Euskirchen (IAB, UAF) in Bonanza Creek (BNZ LTER), and Ueyama (Osaka Prefecture
University, Japan) within the UAF campus.
Award $24,938
Final Report
PI: Nelta Edwards (UAA)
Zeynep Kilic (UAA)
Kasia Polanska (UAS)
William Urquhart (UAS)
Lora Vess (UAS)
Abstract
This proposal is at Tier II for projects with a budget of less than $10,000. The goal
of this proposal is to do the necessary curriculum work and planning to establish
a BA/BS degree in Sociology that will be
jointly offered by UAA and UAS. Regardless of the joint degree outcome, the proposed
work will align Sociology curricula at UAA and UAS which will make it easier for students’
degree planning as well as
the resulting petition processes.
Award $9,708.02
PI: University of ƵSoutheast, Juneau: Glenn Wright, Associate Professor of Political Science University of ƵSoutheast: Ketchikan: Kasia Polanska, Term Assistant Professor of Political Science and Sociology William Urquhart, Associate Professor of Sociology University of ƵFairbanks: Amy Lauren Lovecraft, Professor of Political Science Jeremy S. Speight, Associate Professor of Political Science
Abstract
The University of ƵMission "... inspires learning, and advances and disseminates
knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, emphasizing the North and
its diverse peoples." Our proposal seeks to broaden the knowledge and programs
available to students in Ƶand beyond by coordinating curricula between the University
of ƵSoutheast (Juneau and Ketchikan) and the
University of ƵFairbanks (and the satellite campuses it serves). In brief, our
initial research indicates a coordinated structure between these campuses can improve
efficiency by reducing duplication
in course offerings, enhance advising capabilities by developing a system for long-term
course planning and coordination, create stronger and more specialized mentoring relationships
with cross-campus advising, expand opportunities for students by broadening the range
of courses available to students through the UA political science curriculum and encourage
greater student engagement in discipline-
specific extracurriculars and scholarly research. We seek to combine the strengths
of interdisciplinarity in the social sciences from UAS with UAF’s wider range of Political
Science courses and strength in faculty
research. The resulting partnership will advantage UA students by providing not only
more classes, but more opportunities to participate in activities at both campuses
(web-based lectures and events, specialty advising, faculty grant research, student
exchanges, internships, and service opportunities). This new relationship will particularly
benefit rural students and those seeking more coursework related to environmental
and Indigenous affairs in the state by offering more, and routinized, online classes
as well as more curriculum to meet students' learning needs.
Award $10,000
PI: Dr. Mari Hahn (Professor, UAA) and Dr. Jaunelle Celaire (Professor, UAF), Ann
Schaefer (Piano Term Instructor, UAF) and Natnaphol Amornkiat (Staff Pianist, UAA)
Abstract:
This inter-university project involves the UAF and UAA Departments of Music. The Principal
Investigators will engage in collaborative research, creative activity and professional
development that will integrate with student engagement. The goals of course alignment
and the expansion of learning networks will be met through the study and performances
of selected musical theater excerpts, by UAA
and UAF students. Community outreach and recruitment activities will be possible through
ASD, Charter, and North Star Borough school visits. The Supporting Collaborators will
assist with the rehearsal process and performances.
Award $7,000
Final Report
PI: Jill Flanders Crosby and Becky Kendall
Abstract
This project proposes a collaborative relationship between the UAA Department of Theatre
and Dance and Momentum Dance Collective to build and promote program development,
a vital culture of arts education, and join forces to meet the needs of our respective
organizations in times of dwindling budgets and artistic opportunities in performance
and arts education.
Award $5, 884
PI: Margaret Keiper (UAF)
Benjamin Rush (Prince William Sound)
Timothy Miller (UAA)
Forest Wagner (UAS)
Mark Oldmixon (UAF)
Paul Twardock (APU)
Abstract
The ƵDeveloping Outdoor Leaders Conference (ADOLC) is a proposal focused on
supporting the growth of the fall 2022 ADOLC. The goals of this proposal are to