News
Col. Russell “Russ” Vander Lugt will serve as the next permanent chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, university officials announced Wednesday.
Four finalists for the University of Alaska Fairbanks chancellor position outlined their visions for the university during public forums held May 4–8 on campus.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks hosted two major defense-related announcements Friday where federal and military leaders outlined plans to expand Arctic research, military training and technology development in the state.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks held its 104th commencement ceremony May 2 at the Carlson Center, celebrating the class of 2026. Graduates walked across the stage after years of study to hear their names called and receive their degrees, starting a new chapter as college graduates.
The University of Alaska Board of Regents selected Matthew Cooper, the system’s former general counsel, as its 18th president.
Cooper will succeed President Pat Pitney, who is retiring, and will begin Aug. 3, 2026.
Board Chair Scott Jepsen announced the appointment Friday, citing Cooper’s experience with the university, including work on the UA Land Grant Initiative.
As the College of Liberal Arts looks to hire a new dean, it faces a budget deficit of approximately $700,000 from fiscal year 2025 that resulted in a frozen budget, removal of autonomy over their budget, enlarged class sizes, and limited graduate student working hours. Faculty at the college say the strained budget made it hard to do their jobs due to a lack of resources and question the benefits of administrative overreach.
Last Saturday marked a new era for the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North. After a project envisioned 30 years ago, and a construction that lasted 12 months, the new Walt and Marita Babula Planetarium is finally completed, and the museum is ready to welcome curious visitors wondering about space’s deepest secrets.
Each morning a vehicle containing hundreds of samples approaches an unassuming building located in UAF’s upper campus. As the packages are carefully handled and test tubes are collected, a meticulously coordinated system of scientists starts its daily routine: extracting viral genetic material, testing its contents, and reporting the results.
Community
From century-old journals to hard drives full of digital data, the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Archives is on a mission to preserve the diverse history of the Polar North and make it accessible to the world. Located on the second floor of the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, the archive serves global researchers while navigating the modern challenges of space limits and digital decay.
After working as the Professor of Photography and the Chair of the Department of Science and Environmental Journalism at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for 36 years, Charles Mason said it’s time to retire.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks hosted the annual free Arctic Research Open House on May 14. The event featured verbal and hands-on demonstrations from scientists across multiple departments and institutions, highlighting the diverse scope of Arctic research at UAF.
Hosted over two different days last weekend at SpringFest, the Drama Association welcomed people to come view their show, the Extravaganza 2026: Humans Making Art. Their aim with this show was to showcase humans in their natural habit, creative and making art.
The Casey Smith Project, a Fairbanks-based indie and R&B band, released a new single called “Can’t Pick Up the Phone” ahead of their performance at SpringFest this last weekend; it blends soul influences with indie rock. The song is about leaving past relationships behind when “everything's kind of scattered and you don't have it together.”
Outside Arctic Java April 17, one could hear loud shouts of praise or annoyance, and jaunty, medieval music surrounding the vicinity. Upon closer inspection, there were smiling faces around tables with plastic swords ready to be picked up by adventurous jousters.
The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department hosted their yearly end of the year celebration, which discussed happenings on campus, highlighted program student’s work and handed out awards to accomplished community members.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks held its annual Science Potpourri Saturday to the delight of the children in attendance. Laughter and “oohs” and “awws” were heard many times as the event held demonstrations with explosions, microscopes, museum curation, and other items to get children interested in science.
Sports
Over the weekend, athletes from the University of Alaska Fairbanks ski, rifle and swim teams took part in the NCAA Championships. With four All-Americans and two individual titles, the Nanooks presented a successful end of the NCAA season.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ hockey team ended the 2025-26 season winning the first edition of the United Collegiate Hockey Cup 4-3 against Lindenwood. The Nanooks took home the tournament trophy after a tight final game ending in overtime on March 7. This is their second title of 2026 after the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup win against Anchorage.
In February UAF’s Nordic skier Rosie Fordham competed at the XXV Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. She took part in 5 out of the 6 events dedicated to nordic skiing for the Australian team. Fordham sat down with The Sun Star to reflect on her training process, Fairbanks’ upsides and downsides, and offered insights on ways UAF could support the development of its endurance athletes.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks basketball teams celebrated their seniors during the last home game held Feb. 28 at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium. The women's team fell 73-58 to Western Oregon while the men's team won 82-74 against Western Oregon. Before the games began, each senior was honored in a celebratory ceremony, surrounded by their families, friends and loved ones. Names, stats, a brief bio and heartfelt words from the coaches were shared with the crowd.

