Welcome from Miranda Wright, Director
Welcome to the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development website.
If you are interested in further developing your leadership and management skills for improving the quality of life in your indigenous or rural community you should check us out. You can earn a Rural Development degree on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks or by distance through audioconference classes from wherever you are. Students learn from highly qualified faculty, including Native faculty, Elders, guest presenters, and perhaps most importantly, from each other.
The DANSRD Program has a rich history. The BA program has been in existence since 1984, the BA (distance) Program since 1994, and the RD MA program since 2000. We are very proud of the positive impact our students and graduates have on their communities. Since its inception our programs have produced 200+ graduates. Our students and graduates are in many management and leadership positions with their village governments, corporations, organizations and government agencies. Our students and graduates are spread throughout Alaska and beyond. We are now beginning to see international students join the program.
One of our goals is to create a network of ANS and RD graduates throughout Alaska, the Circumpolar North, and around the world. If there is one thing we can say about our students and graduates it is that they are making a difference.
DANSRD Mission Statement
Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development Mission Statement
“Our mission is to strengthen leadership capacity for rural and
indigenous communities in Alaska and the circumpolar North
through degree programs that promote academic excellence, personal
development, professional skills, global awareness, respect for
indigenous cultures and commitment to community. We seek to include a keen awareness of
the scope, richness, and variety of Alaska Native cultural heritages, and
a series of critical perspectives on the historical and
the contemporary indigenous experience for all our students.”
DANSRD Faculty Elder, Senator John Sackett-retired Guest Article "Life is Good"
DANSRD Faculty Elder, Senator John Sackett (retired) Guest Article "Life is Good" was presented at the 2010 Rural Development Indigenous Leadership Symposium. This course serves as a foundation for the Master's degree program in Rural Development and a key factor to its success is the opportunity for the graduate students to mentor with Faculty Elders for the week-long symposium.
To read the full article click here.