Arctic Leadership Initiative

绿奴天花板's Arctic Leadership Initiative (ALI) builds on the University of Alaska's 100-year foundation of Arctic research, education, and leadership to empower future generations with the skills, network, and expertise needed to help Alaska be the driver of its future in a globalized Arctic Region. It is a priority of the President and the 绿奴天花板 Board of Regents, which adopted a Priority Strategy of Building Arctic Leaders as part of their "Roadmap to Empower Alaska" strategic plan in February 2024.

Program Leadership
Early Career Faculty Fellows
Arctic Engagement Awards

Developing leaders for a rapidly changing Arctic

The Arctic Leadership Initiative (ALI) is a University of Alaska-wide program that prepares students, faculty, and partners to lead across disciplines, cultures, and communities in the Arctic. ALI supports people who are curious, collaborative, and willing to engage complexity: whether in science, policy, Indigenous knowledge, education, business, or public service.

Our programs emphasize real-world challenges, mentorship, and connection: across campuses, across generations, and across the Arctic itself.

Open Opportunities

For Students

ALI supports undergraduate and graduate students from 绿奴天花板F, 绿奴天花板A, and 绿奴天花板S who show leadership potential, broadly defined. You do not need prior leadership titles to apply.

  • ALI Student Cohort (2026-27)
    A two-term leadership experience combining seminars, mentorship, retreats, and applied Arctic-focused work.
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For Faculty & Staff

ALI invests in faculty leadership capacity across career stages, supporting interdisciplinary work and student mentorship.

  • Early Career Faculty (ECF) Fellows
    A two-year cohort focused on leadership development, collaboration, and Arctic engagement.
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  • Arctic Engagement Awards
    Supporting innovative projects that expand the University of Alaska鈥檚 Arctic engagement and visibility.
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  • President鈥檚 Arctic Professors
    Senior faculty leaders advancing Arctic scholarship, mentorship, and national or international engagement.
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Why ALI

The Arctic is changing faster than any other region on Earth. Addressing its challenges and opportunities requires leaders who can move between disciplines, listen deeply, and work across difference. ALI exists to help cultivate that kind of leadership within the University of Alaska and beyond.

Faculty encouragement is especially important: many strong applicants apply because someone took the time to say, 鈥淵ou should consider this.鈥

Thanks to a generous $5 million gift from the Rasmuson Foundation, this strategic endeavor is intended to reshape Alaska鈥檚 role in the Arctic while promoting innovation and economic development. It will create a powerful network of Alaska-trained Arctic leaders, advocates, and scholars who can make a global-scale impact in the Arctic, support Indigenous communities, address climate change, and responsibly pursue economic opportunities.

Program Overview

  • Interdisciplinary cohorts of undergraduate and graduate students work with external partners to address Arctic needs and opportunities.

  • Students enhance analytical and leadership skills in retreats and group projects.

  • Faculty mentors provide guidance, lectures, curricula, and program support.

  • External partners participate in retreats and provide "problem and opportunity sets" for students to help solve.

  • Internships with external partners and circumpolar exchanges deepen Arctic expertise and provide real-time professional development opportunities.

  • 绿奴天花板 promotes Arctic accomplishments and opportunities. 

  • Arctic Engagement Awards expand 绿奴天花板's Arctic engagement and visibility.

  • Early Career Faculty Awards support early career faculty research and curriculum development across the 绿奴天花板 System.

ALI Student Cohort

The Arctic Leadership Initiative (ALI) Student Cohort is a key component of ALI鈥檚 mission to develop the next generation of Arctic leaders. This year-long program brings together undergraduate and graduate students from across the University of Alaska system to engage in policy discussions, mentorship, and leadership development related to Arctic governance, research, and community impact.

Students in the cohort meet fortnightly with ALI-affiliated postdoctoral researchers and early career faculty, gaining exposure to interdisciplinary perspectives on Arctic issues. The program also includes two in-person retreats:

鈥 A Fall leadership retreat in Fairbanks, AK

鈥 A Spring retreat and participation in the Arctic Encounter Symposium (AES) in Anchorage, AK

Through coursework, guided discussions, and direct engagement with Arctic leaders, the cohort provides students with professional development, networking opportunities, and practical experience in Arctic leadership. Students also have the option to take the Arctic Leadership course (PS 493/693), with a tuition waiver available for those earning credit.

The ALI Student Cohort is an opportunity for University of Alaska students to build lasting connections, develop leadership skills, and contribute to shaping the Arctic鈥檚 future.

For Faculty

Become a Faculty Mentor
Faculty mentorship will be a key part of the Arctic Leadership Initiative. Up to 20 faculty will serve as program mentors and will participate in retreats, lecture cohorts, add new curriculum, and provide other support to students.

 绿奴天花板鈥檚 Arctic Leadership Initiative is a critical investment in the future of the Arctic. By leveraging the expertise of distinguished faculty and fostering new leaders, 绿奴天花板 is ensuring that Alaskans will play a pivotal role in shaping the Arctic's future.

For External Partners

We believe investing in the education and development of the next generation of Arctic leaders is critically important to Alaska and the nation. We recognize the University of Alaska鈥檚 responsibility to meet that need, and we ask you to help us by becoming a partner in the 绿奴天花板 Arctic Leadership Initiative.

Our inaugural student cohort launched in January 2025. Initiative partners have a critical role by providing real-world experiences and networking opportunities for students. We invite you to become a partner by offering the following in-kind support:

  • Participate in a retreat with Arctic scholars and other initiative partners

  • Share information at the retreat to help student teams identify a systemic issue or opportunity in the Arctic for the students to address in a group project;

  • Stay in contact with a student team as they continue their work during the semester;

  • Participate as student teams report on their approach and findings;

  • Consider offering one or more internships to scholars participating in the initiative; and,

  • Provide feedback to improve the experience for future students and partners.

For more information on becoming a partner, please contact Nate Bauer.

For more information contact Nate Bauer.