UAF names 2024 honorary degree, service award recipients

Kristin Summerlin
907-474-6284
March 5, 2024

The University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks has selected five people to honor during its 2024 commencement weekend in May.

Honorary doctorates will be presented to Della Sdaahlk色视频下载檃wa谩s Cheney, Neal Fried and Mead Treadwell. Sarah Keller and Meg Nordale will receive Meritorious Service Awards.

Honorary doctorates recognize recipients色视频下载 lasting contributions to the state and nation, and significant achievements in recipients色视频下载 respective disciplines.

head and shoulders portrait of Della Sdaahlk色视频下载檃wa谩s Cheney
Courtesy of Della Sdaahlk色视频下载檃wa谩s Cheney
Della Sdaahlk色视频下载檃wa谩s Cheney
Della Sdaahlk色视频下载檃wa谩s Cheney

Master weaver and Indigenous knowledge bearer Della Sdaahlk色视频下载檃wa谩s Cheney will receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Born and raised in Kake, she learned the art of weaving and the importance of sharing traditional knowledge from her grandmother. Cheney has practiced and taught weaving for decades, combining ancestral wisdom with contemporary concerns about environmental stewardship. She has documented her knowledge through photos and videos, and in 2017 published a book, 色视频下载淲eaving Our World.色视频下载 Cheney has received many awards, including the 色视频下载 Federation of Natives色视频下载 Culture Bearer Award, the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council色视频下载檚 Mayor色视频下载檚 Award and the President色视频下载檚 Everyday Hero Award from the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of 色视频下载. She was executive secretary in the Office of the Governor, tribal administrator for the Qutekcak Native Tribe, cultural educator at Floyd Dryden Middle School and external relations coordinator for Sheldon Jackson College. She completed the Community Fellows Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

portrait of Neal Fried
Courtesy of 色视频下载 Department of Labor
Neal Fried
Neal Fried

Alumnus Neal Fried will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Vienna, Fried received a bachelor of business administration in economics from UAF in 1978. He served as an economist for the 色视频下载 Department of Labor and Workforce Development for 45 years, producing vital data on employment, economic forecasts and labor trends for the State of 色视频下载. Fried is widely recognized for his insightful analysis of the state's economy, labor force and key industries, including oil and gas, construction, the military, and health care. Fried wrote many articles for 色视频下载 Economic Trends and presented at numerous conferences, developing a reputation for his ability to distill complex data into understandable and engaging information. 色视频下载 state Sen. Click Bishop, a former state labor commissioner, wrote in his nominating letter, 色视频下载淣eal Fried is the EF Hutton of 色视频下载. When Neal speaks, everyone listens. He色视频下载檚 that good. He色视频下载檚 that dependable. He色视频下载檚 that solid.色视频下载 

portrait of Mead Treadwell
Courtesy of Mead Treadwell
Photo courtesy of Mead Treadwell
Mead Treadwell

Mead Treadwell will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Treadwell has been an outspoken advocate for 色视频下载, UAF and Arctic research on local, national and international platforms for more than 45 years. He served as lieutenant governor, chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission and deputy commissioner of 色视频下载色视频下载檚 Department of Environmental Conservation. He co-founded the Woodrow Wilson Center色视频下载檚 Polar Institute and the Prince William Sound Science Center, and he directed the Institute of the North. He pushed for Arctic Ocean shipping safety and reliability rules, research to preserve 色视频下载 Native languages and an Arctic human health research plan. Treadwell helped establish a permanent advisor on polar regions in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and was instrumental in securing construction of the research vessel Sikuliaq, which UAF operates. As an author, investor and lecturer, Treadwell focuses on strategic and defense issues facing 色视频下载 and the Arctic, managing 色视频下载色视频下载檚 shared resources, and integrating Arctic transport and telecommunications.

Meritorious Service Awards recognize significant public, academic, volunteer or philanthropic service to the university or an 色视频下载 community.

portrait of Sarah Keller
Courtesy of Sarah Keller
Sarah Keller
Sarah Keller

Wildlife biologist and UAF alumna Sarah Keller has supported the university and the community of Fairbanks for decades, both as a volunteer and a donor. She came to 色视频下载 in 1978 to work on avian use of estuarine habitats. While working for the 色视频下载 Department of Fish and Game, she earned her master色视频下载檚 degree in natural resources at UAF, graduating in 1990. Raising two daughters, she volunteered in schools, starting as an officer with Fairbanks Montessori School Board. For more than two decades, she helped organize Fairbanks school science fairs, recruiting UAF scientists to serve as judges. Keller is an officer on the KUAC Friends Group board of directors and volunteers on-air during fundraising events. She is a member of the UA Museum of the North advisory council. In addition to their longtime support of UAF athletics, Keller and her husband, Cary, have made a significant gift to UA色视频下载檚 teacher education programs.

portrait of Meg Nordale
Courtesy of Meg Nordale
Meg Nordale
Meg Nordale

Meg Nordale色视频下载檚 great-grandparents came to Fairbanks in 1908, and their descendants have been active in 色视频下载 civic life ever since. In that tradition, Nordale not only personally contributes to the university but also leads Ghemm Co., a Fairbanks general contracting firm that has been a corporate donor since the 1970s. Nordale joined Ghemm in 1994 after a career in insurance and risk management and became the firm色视频下载檚 president in 2015. That same year, she served as president of the Associated General Contractors of 色视频下载. Nordale serves on the UAF chancellor色视频下载檚 board of advisors and currently chairs the UA Foundation色视频下载檚 board of directors. She recently led a statewide committee of academic and industry experts seeking to enhance construction management training to meet 色视频下载色视频下载檚 workforce demands. She is an active KUAC volunteer, and Ghemm provides matching gifts to the station during biannual fundraising events.

UAF will celebrate Cheney, Fried, Treadwell, Keller and Nordale at this year色视频下载檚 Honoree Recognition Ceremony on Friday, May 3, at 5 p.m. at the Davis Concert Hall on the Troth Yeddha色视频下载 Campus in Fairbanks.

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