University Of Alaska Anchorage: UA Hires Dr. Pearl K. Brower To Lead Alaska Native Success, Diversity And Inclusion ...

Press release from the University of Alaska Anchorage:

August 12, 2021

In a major step toward improving the success of Alaska Native students, staff and
faculty at the University of Alaska, Interim President Pat Pitney announced today
that Dr. Pearl Brower will lead the development and implementation of diversity and
inclusion strategies at the university.

Brower will be Senior Advisor for Alaska Native Success, Institutional Diversity and
Student Engagement, and will report directly to the president. She has been tasked
with coordinating recommendations developed through the Alaska Native Success Initiative
and to foster partnerships between the UA system and the Alaska Federation of Natives,
the 13 regional Native corporations and their foundation partners.

While each university in the system has programs and staff dedicated to equity and
diversity, Brower will be available to advise the president, chancellors and other
university system leaders on these critical issues, including engaging with the Alaska
Native Studies Council, UA for Racial Justice and other university-affiliated groups
to develop strategies for progress.

Over the past 10 months, the university has been deeply examining how to better server
Alaska Native, black, Indigenous and other students, staff and faculty of color. The
Board of Regents directed Pitney to address the system’s shortcomings in Alaska Native
recruitment, retention and success. This led to the creation of the Alaska Native Success Initiative. Community and university members have developed a framework and actions that resulted
from this process.

“We recognize that we are far from perfect, and must do better,” Pitney said. “Dr.
Brower’s experience, education and passion for higher education is evident in everything
she undertakes, and I look forward to the expertise she will bring to create meaningful
and visible change across the UA system.”

Specifically, Brower will:

"The university offers an amazing, culturally diverse student body, but we can do
more to incorporate who we are as Native people into all areas of university life
and learning," Brower said. "We should be unapologetic about who we are as Alaskan
Natives, and diversity, equity and inclusion should be felt throughout our universities.
We need to encourage all staff to embrace the values that Alaska Natives bring as
universal values, and we must always critically address our institutions and how they
operate."

Brower holds a Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies with an emphasis on Indigenous leadership
and has 13 years in higher education leadership, most recently as president of Alaska’s
only Tribal College, Iḷisaġvik College. Prior to her tenure as president, Brower served
as Iḷisaġvik’s Dean of Students and Institutional Development; Director of External
Relations & Development; and, Special Assistant of External Affairs & Marketing for
Iḷisaġvik. She also managed the college’s Foundation and was responsible for facilities
planning capital campaign and facilities activities. View her full CV.

Brower describes herself as a servant leader who wants to be a part of solutions to
create a healthier Alaska. “I am committed to stability, student success, working
together and being transparent,” Brower said. “I am Alaska homegrown and a place-based
leader, and I want to accelerate excellence through continuous improvement.”

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