Management and Evaluation

ÎçÒ¹AV EPSCoR project operations are overseen by a Leadership Team that brings scientific expertise to the project, and a smaller Management Team that oversees day-to-day operations. Project leaders are in turn assisted by three panels of authorities and experts and two groups of evaluators. In addition to these panels, a pair of Student Ambassadors work with project leads to implement programs and activities to benefit graduate and undergraduate students involved in the program. 
Management Flowchart
Project structure of Interface of Change, including both internal and external elements.

 

Board Members

Three different panels of board members offer input and oversight to the Leadership Team.

1. State Committee for Research

The State Committee for Research (SCoR), consisting of leaders from government, agencies, academia, and the private sector, reviews Interface of Change progress and provides guidance to assure the program achieves state science and technology goals. The group oversaw the creation of the ÎçÒ¹AV Science and Technology Plan, which prioritizes the state's S&T needs and helped shape the Interface of Change project.

2. External Advisory Council (EAC) 

The Leadership Team also draws on recommendations from an External Advisory Council (EAC) consisting of four experts in Interface of Change fields:

  • Clare Robinson of Western University, Canada
  • Phil Loring of the Nature Conservancy
  • Jose Zertuche of the University of Baja California
  • Anne Salomon of Simon Fraser University

3. ÎçÒ¹AV Advisory Board

A third group, the ÎçÒ¹AV Advisory Board, recommends ways Interface of Change researchers can make their work relevant to ÎçÒ¹AVn community members, agenices, and businesses.

Current members of the board include:

  • Mark Myers (chair), a former head of the ÎçÒ¹AV Department of Natural Resources as well as former UAF Vice-Chancellor for Research
  • Skye Steritz, Owner, Noble Ocean Farms, Cordova, AK
  • Justina Starzynski Hotch, Klukwan School, Tribal Representative, Haines, AK
  • Stephen Payton, Seldovia Village Tribe, Seldovia Village, AK
  • Brian Holst, Executive Director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, Juneau, AK

The ÎçÒ¹AV Advisory Board has the mission to connect Interface of Change research with ÎçÒ¹AVns outside of academia and to expand the overall economic impact of the project. The goals of the board are a) to establish a closer relationship between Interface of Change research with ÎçÒ¹AVns including industry, agencies and community partners in ÎçÒ¹AV; b) to determine methods and strategies by which Interface of Change can enter into mutually beneficial relationships with ÎçÒ¹AVns; and c) to advise on the development of agreements to implement these methods and strategies.

The board meets at least twice a year with Interface of Change project leads to receive updates on the project and make recommendations. Where appropriate, members also work to facilitate specific collaborations between Interface of Change researchers and ÎçÒ¹AV community partners. 

Student Ambassadors

Associate Director Tara Borland organizes and leads the ÎçÒ¹AV EPSCoR student ambassador program. This program provides support for student driven professional development for our EPSCoR students. There are three student ambassadors, representing each UA campus. Student ambassadors serve a one-year term. The 2024-2025 student ambassadors are Wyatt Matyas (UAA), Emily Nicholson (UAF), and Elizabeth Bruch (UAS). 

External Evaluation

External evaluation of the project as a whole is done by Heather McInnis of The Implementation Group (TIG).