Dr. Diane Hirshberg named ISER Director

Jan. 3, 2022

Dr. Diane Hirshberg, professor of education policy, has been selected as Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER). Dr. Hirshberg is an 18-year veteran of UAA and ISER, and has served in leadership roles such as President of UAA’s faculty senate and advisor to the Chancellor on Arctic Research and Education. She was the founding director of the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research and is currently Vice-President Academic at the University of the Arctic.

“Dr. Hirshberg’s knowledge of Alaska and its people, and her dedication to strengthen ISER in its mission will help the Institute continue its 60-year track record of quality research and analysis on topics important to the state,” said Dr. John Nofsinger, Dean of UAA’s College of Business and Public Policy, where ISER resides. 

“I look forward to taking on this new role,” said Dr. Hirshberg. “ISER, UAA, and Alaska have been my home for almost two decades, and I am excited to have the opportunity to build on the good work of my predecessors and grow ISER’s contributions to Alaska and beyond.”

Dr. Hirshberg holds a PhD in Education from UCLA, a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University, and two bachelor’s degrees from UC Berkeley.