SW OIT employee Jim Chapman retired April 30th, but returned to campus to say farewell at an ice cream social on Friday June 25th. PHOTOS...

Program Specialist
UA Scholars/UA College Savings

Start date: June 21, 2010

Jesse Manchester is the new Program Specialist with the UA Scholars/UA College Savings Plan Office. Manchester is responsible for communicating with students, parents, counselors, and high schools across the state as well as the main and branch campuses of the university with any issues or interpretations of provisions within each of the programs. He will travel and represent the program at promotional events and fairs as well as perform other responsibilities as needed.

Manchester's first university position was for Residence Life at UAF as a resident assistant.� Prior to this position he worked as a legislative intern for Rep. David Guttenberg, D-Fairbanks.

He was born and raised in South San Francisco, California. The family moved to Alaska and he then attended Wasilla High School in 2003 and graduated in the class of 2007. Manchester is a new UAF alum, having graduated as part of the class of 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

Manchester's 1-year-old daughter, Payton, is a huge facet in his life.� Manchester has prior work and service with Alpha Phi Omega National Coed Service Fraternity, counts himself as a performer by trade, and has several years of acting, dance and vocal training experience.

Account reconciliations
SW Cost Analysis

Start date: June 21, 2010

A lifelong Fairbanks resident, Jane Prenesti has enjoyed working with a variety of local businesses and government institutions in the Fairbanks area.� The majority of her work experience has been in accounting.

Research Analyst
Statewide Planning and Institutional Research

Start date: June 7, 2010

Until June 4, 2010, Watson was a research assistant with SWPIR as part of his graduate statistics studies at UAF. In a previous incarnation, he was a newspaper editor and designer. Over the years, he has done a lot of work in education, from teaching English as a Second Language and GED classes to spending two years as the National Science Foundation science mentor at Effie Kokrine Charter School in Fairbanks.

Adam Watson was born in Montana. He grew up in Montana, Australia, Colorado and Singapore. Watson moved to Alaska in January of 2000 from Tucson, Arizona.

Watson attended the University of Pennsylvania and earned a BA in Asian Studies. He is currently pursuing dual master's degree– a Master of Science in biology and Master of Science in Statistics– at the University of Alaska.

He is married to Bridget Watson,� administrator for the Office of Research Integrity at UAF and an MBA student. Other interests include music, travel, outdoorsy activities and sports.
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There's nothing like a pink gorilla to say happy birthday! Betty Dupee was surprised by her children and co-workers on her 60th birthday this month.

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