Teri Cothren began her career in workforce development at the University of Alaska
Anchorage (UAA) shortly after graduating from UAA and later transitioned to the System
Office where she has served in various workforce development roles and currently as
Associate Vice President of Workforce Development. In this capacity she is an associate
member of the UA Community Campus Directors Council, member of the National Association
of State Directors of Advance Career and Technical Education (CTE), served in various
board positions and continues to be involved as an engaged member and committee participant
for the Alaska Association for Career and Technical Education, member of the Board
of Directors for the Alaska Safety Alliance, chair of the UA Fisheries, Seafood and
Maritime Initiative, co-chair of the Alaska Maritime Education Consortium, and vice
chair of the Alaska ACT Council. Cothren also is an active member with CTE partners
around the state, including the Alaska Departments of Labor and Workforce Development
and Education and Early Development, to implement the Alaska Career and Technical
Education Plan and other industry workforce development plans for health, maritime,
mining and oil & gas. In 2016, Cothren received the UA Statewide President's Spotlight
Award for her contributions in CTE and workforce development.
Cothren is an alumna of UAA, obtaining an undergraduate degree in psychology, and
UAA Athletics Women's Basketball. She completed a Master of Public Administration
from University of Alaska Southeast in 2022 and was recognized by the program faculty
as a recipient of the Ernest Gruening Award for Outstanding Graduate.
