Arctic Leadership Lecture Series: Fran Ulmer

We’re proud to welcome Fran Ulmer, former chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission and longtime Alaska leader, as the next guest in the Arctic Leadership Lecture Series. Ulmer has served as Alaska’s lieutenant governor, chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage, and adviser to U.S. presidents and secretaries of state on Arctic policy. With decades of experience at the intersection of science, governance and community, she will share reflections on leadership in the North and the challenges of guiding Alaska and the Arctic through a time of rapid change.

This virtual lecture is free and open to the public.

Arctic Leadership Lecture Series presents: Fran Ulmer

Date: September 11th, 2025

Time: 5:30-7:00pm AKST

Location: Zoom

Zoom Option: https://alaska.zoom.us/j/89231879618

The Arctic Leadership Lecture Series is hosted by the UAF Political Science Department and the UAF Arctic and Northern Studies program. The series brings together influential voices from across the North to discuss leadership, policy, and the future of the Arctic. It is presented in partnership with the Arctic Leadership Initiative, which fosters leadership through education, dialogue, and collaboration.

About the Speaker
Fran Ulmer served as Chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission from 2011 to 2020 and continues as a commissioner, appointed by President Obama. She was Chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage and previously led its Institute of Social and Economic Research. Ulmer served on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Commission and advised Secretary of State John Kerry on Arctic policy. She is a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Arctic Initiative and has held leadership roles with The Nature Conservancy and National Parks Conservation Association. Her public service includes terms as Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, state legislator, and mayor of Juneau. She holds a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin.

Arctic & Northern Studies at UAF

UAF’s Arctic and Northern Studies program offers interdisciplinary degrees that explore the history, cultures, governance, and environment of the circumpolar North. Students develop deep regional knowledge while engaging with issues that matter to Alaska and the Arctic world.

UAF Department of Political Science
The Department of Political Science prepares students to understand and engage with the forces shaping governance, policy, and political life in Alaska, the nation, and the world. With strengths in American government, political theory, public law, and international relations, the program offers a foundation for active citizenship and leadership.

Support the Programs
The Arctic Leadership Lecture Series is made possible through the dedication of the Arctic & Northern Studies and Political Science programs at UAF. If you’d like to support students, research, and public programming in these areas, please consider making a gift to either program. Your generosity helps us sustain opportunities that connect the university, Alaska, and the Arctic.

Donate to UAF Political Science Dept: https://engage.alaska.edu/uaf/

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