Introducing Bonnie Carroll

My office is in the Bragaw Office Building in Anchorage, although my work spans the state of Alaska. My department seeks to make the dream of higher education a reality for current and future generations.

I began my work with the UA Scholars Program and the UA College Savings Plan in 1999, when both programs were in their infancy. The Scholars Program was offering scholarships to its first year of high school graduates. At that time, UA only captured around 100 of the state’s top high school graduates. At present, more than 430 top high school students are enrolling and taking advantage of the UA Scholars Award each year. Helping stem Alaska’s brain drain over the last decade has been incredibly rewarding.

The UA College Savings Plan is a tax-advantaged, section 529 college savings plan that is helping thousands of Alaskans save for college. It began as an in-state, prepaid tuition program for Alaska residents. Soon after I was hired, we partnered with T. Rowe Price Investment Services, harnessing its investment expertise, to offer an expanded 529 college savings plan with many different investment options. Today, the UA College Savings Plan is lauded for its high quality investments, excellent customer service, creative and effective marketing campaigns, and its tuition value guarantee (offered to beneficiaries who choose to attend UA). If you have young children or grandchildren, you should be saving in the plan. I would love to answer any questions you might have about getting started.

Born and raised in northern Wyoming, I grew up in awe of the stories my uncle, a UAF alumni, adventurer and biologist, shared of his experiences and expeditions in the arctic. When my best friends chose to enroll at UAF right after high school, I decided it made sense to follow them. It has been 21 years since making the move and I’m thankful for the many opportunities I’ve had along the way and feel privileged to be raising my own family here in the Great Land.

Shaping

Student Achievement and Attainment

The UA College Savings Plan and Scholars Program are shaping Alaska’s future in a major way as they funnel students from all regions of the state to our campuses. Bolstered by the knowledge that an investment has been made in their future, students funded by the program are more likely to attend college. UA Scholars are more diverse than the general student body and they graduate at a higher rate. A growing number of Alaskans save their PFD for college each year (this year we’re expecting 14,000). We are working with native corporations and Alaska employers to allow shareholders and employees to direct deposit funds into their loved ones’ savings plans. Another project we are working on is the development of a long-term recruitment plan to attract even more plan participants to enroll at UA.

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The names selected for these profiles are generated by random from the UA People Directory. If you are a UA faculty, staff and/or student please check and update your listing at https://people.alaska.edu/.