Faces of STEM
EPSCoR is showcasing the unique characteristics that Alaskans bring to STEM by sharing a series of interviews with former University of Alaska students in successful STEM careers.
Carla Cartagena De Jesus received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from UAF and works as a pediatrician at
Fairbanks’ Tanana Valley Clinic.
Liz Dennett got her bachelor’s in Geology and Earth Science at UAA and builds cloud-based solutions
for Amazon Web Services.
Thomas Farrugia earned his doctorate in Fisheries at UAF and now monitors harmful algal blooms for
the Alaska Ocean Observing System.
Mindy Kim Graham got her bachelor’s in Chemistry from UAA and works as a postdoctoral cancer researcher
at Johns Hopkins.
Lee Foulkes received a Bachelor’s in Marine Biology from UAF and has a job as a Program Support
Biologist for the Muckleshoot Tribe in Western Washington state.
Nikki Grant-Hoffman's Ph.D in Ecology at UAF led to a career as an Ecologist and Science Coordinator
for the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado.
Thomas Hughes earned his bachelor’s in Civil Engineering at UAF and is now an engineer for the
Alaska Department of Transportation.
James Campbell received a doctorate in Atmospheric Sciences from UAF and is a meteorologist for the
Naval Research Laboratory.
Shawn Takak turned an Engineering B.S. from UAA into a career improving village infrastructure
with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
Sigrun Hreinsdottir received her Ph.D in Geophysics from UAF and now studies earthquakes and volcanoes
in New Zealand.