University Of Alaska Anchorage: From The Army To Student Government, Passion For Service Fuels Esther Dale

Press release from the University of Alaska Anchorage:

November 30, 2021

 When Esther Dale, a veteran and mom of three kids, moved to Alaska with her husband
after they retired from the U.S. Army, she was looking to use her GI Bill before it
expired. UAA was the perfect match, and she began her higher education career, pursuing
a B.S. in social work. She graduated in May with her bachelor's and a certificate
in civic engagement and is currently working toward her A.A. in Alaska Native studies.

For Dale, UAA was surprisingly the “perfect” match. When she arrived in Alaska and
began looking for higher education opportunities, she chose UAA primarily out of necessity.
Still, she quickly fell in love with the state and her hometown university. It didn’t
take long for her to get involved on campus, and she began attending Club Council
meetings as a representative of the Student Social Work Coalition.

“I really liked being a part of the Student Social Work Coalition and helping support
our mission,” Dale said. “I also ended up really enjoying attending the Club Council
meetings, and it was suggested to me that I run for a position.”

Dale ran for vice chair of Club Council, which meant she represented student clubs
at UAA during Union of Students of the University of Alaska Anchorage (USUAA) meetings
and would soon find herself running for a position within UAA’s student government.  

“USUAA and Club Council gave me a way to be involved in something when everything
shut down,” said Dale. Shortly after receiving her Club Council role, the pandemic
brought much of campus life and culture to a screeching halt. But for Dale, her involvement
ended up helping her handle the trials COVID-19 brought. “It ended up being a great
network and support system as I headed into my senior year of school. Both of these
activities ended up being relevant to my program, particularly with the advocacy portion.”

Dale said the experience of participating in both organizations allowed her to maintain
her connection with the campus community during the shutdown and helped her feel like
she was making a difference for her peers and providing support.

That was nearly two years ago, and although the pandemic has shifted life, the university
has returned to a more normal day-to-day experience for students. Since joining USUAA
and stepping into her role as vice president, Dale has championed many projects and
initiatives advocating for students' overall well-being and success.

From organizing a list of mental health resources for students on- and off-campus
and helping to pass a resolution for an established student food pantry to successfully
advocating for the military tuition assistance model, a model that has now been adopted
universitywide, Dale, in addition to her studies, has been seriously engaged in her
work with USUAA.

Since COVID-19, she and members of USUAA have focused their attention on health and
safety efforts, making sure they are advocating for students at the university and
the statewide level. 

This fall, Dale is working on passing a resolution that an assembly member introduced
to implement an Alaska Native land acknowledgment at the beginning of each USUAA meeting,
which the student body will vote on in April.

“I think this, in particular, is important because it’s not just a check box, but
it is a way for us to be thoughtful on this issue,” Dale said.

Dale is looking forward to finishing the academic year as vice president for USUAA
and said the experience has enriched her education at UAA.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time serving on USUAA and hope that I can keep making a difference,”
Dale said.

This press release was produced by the University of Alaska Anchorage. The views expressed here are the author’s own.