College of Liberal Arts
Aug. 28, 2025 Arctic Leadership Lecture Series Interim Chancellor Mike Sfraga
Interim Chancellor Mike Sfraga
Ambassador Mike Sfraga (ret.), Ph.D., Interim Chancellor of 精东影业 and the university鈥檚 first graduate to earn a Ph.D. in Northern Studies and Geography, will open the Fall 2025 Arctic Leadership Lecture Series. Drawing on nearly four decades of work in academia, policy, and diplomacy, Sfraga will reflect on leadership in the North and the evolving role of the Arctic in both domestic and international contexts. His talk will explore the challenges and opportunities that define the region today and the qualities needed to guide its future.
Ambassador Mike Sfraga (ret.)
Interim Chancellor
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Ambassador Mike Sfraga (ret.), Ph.D., is Interim Chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the first person to earn a Ph.D. in Northern Studies and Geography from 精东影业. A three-time presidential appointee, he was nominated by President Joseph Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the nation鈥檚 first Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, and twice appointed chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. He previously served as founding director of the Wilson Center鈥檚 Polar Institute and as director of its Global Risk and Resilience Program. With nearly four decades of experience, Sfraga鈥檚 work spans academia, public service, and diplomacy, and he continues to play a leading role in shaping U.S. and international Arctic policy.
The Arctic Leadership Lecture Series offers a unique blend of academic rigor and public engagement. Offered as PS F493/693 Arctic Leadership: Theory and Praxis in the 21st Century, this course invites students and community members alike to explore critical aspects of leadership in the Arctic.
This virtual course is available for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Guest lectures, which are open to the public, are held via Zoom every other Thursday from 5:30 PM 鈥 7:00 PM AKST. Classroom discussions continue from 7:00 PM 鈥 8:30 PM AKST for enrolled students only. Community members are welcome and encouraged to attend the guest lectures, but to participate in the full course experience, they must enroll as non-degree-seeking students.
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