Alaska Pacific University Alumni

Today we recognize , a day honoring the end of slavery in the United States and celebrating freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.

At APU, we reflect on this history and reaffirm our commitment to equity, belonging, and learning rooted in respect for all people.

📸: Tim Kelly

🎓 Congratulations to the newest graduates of APU’s Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program (ANELP)!

Over the course of the program, these leaders strengthened their skills, expanded their networks, and deepened their commitment to serving Alaska Native communities. Their dedication to leadership, collaboration, and creating positive change will have a lasting impact across Alaska.

We celebrate this achievement and look forward to seeing how these graduates continue to lead with purpose in their organizations, communities, and beyond.

🤝 Building the future of Indigenous health research in Alaska.

Since 2019, the Alaska Indigenous Research Program (AKIRP), a partnership between Alaska Pacific University and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, has been strengthening capacity for culturally responsive and respectful health research that serves Alaska Native and American Indian communities.

What began as a shared vision has grown into a network of 634 students, researchers, health professionals, and scientists from Alaska, across the U.S., and around the world. Together, they are advancing research grounded in community priorities, respect, and Indigenous ways of knowing.

🌱 The first stop of the Alaska Resilience Farms Road Show was a success!

Our crew traveled to Iliamna and Newhalen to work alongside community members in creating two community gardens and helping Elders with projects at their homes. It was an incredible week of shared knowledge, teamwork, and community care.

A special chin'nan (thank you) to Evelynn Trefon, the local Garden Champion, for coordinating the visit and helping make this work possible. We’re also grateful to her children and all of the community youth who showed up ready to dig, build, learn, and lend a hand. Your hard work and enthusiasm made a lasting impact!

Together, we're growing more than gardens—we're growing connections, skills, and stronger communities across Alaska. 🌿

Have a short story, poem, or essay you want reviewed by professionals? Curious about what graduate school at Alaska Pacific University is like? Want to meet others in the professional writing scene in Anchorage?

Join us for MFA for a Day with the Alaska Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program! Attend one day — or as many as you’d like — and receive feedback on your writing from our talented MFA cohort and award-winning faculty recognized at both the state and national level.

Come write, learn, and experience graduate-level creative writing at APU.

Rain, wind, cold camps, and unforgettable experiences — APU students just returned from a month-long Block expedition in Prince William Sound.

Throughout the course, students built leadership and expedition skills while learning navigation, natural history, and how to camp and travel through challenging coastal conditions. By the end of the trip, students also earned their American Canoe Association Coastal Kayaking Instructor certification.

At APU, Block courses create opportunities for immersive, hands-on learning that push students beyond their comfort zones and into real-world adventure.

Scholarships can make a big difference when planning for college 🎓✨

At Alaska Pacific University, students can explore a searchable scholarship list with opportunities based on academics, programs, interests, and more. Find funding options that fit your goals and start planning your future today!

Browse scholarships here: https://ow.ly/TOUM50Z2VBA

🌏 APU students are currently in Australia for Walking Together: Culturally Safe Health Care, an immersive study abroad course exploring cultural safety in healthcare through self-awareness, relationship-building, and global learning experiences. Through this course, students examine how personal cultural identities, beliefs, and experiences shape healthcare practices while learning the importance of culturally safe, individualized care.

So far, students have explored the University of Notre Dame Australia campus, visited Caversham Wildlife Park, attended an Aussie Rules football game, and traveled to Rottnest Island — all while building new perspectives on healthcare and community across cultures. 🦘💙

📣 Updates on APU’s microplastics research in Alaska!

APU student researchers are gaining hands-on experience studying water samples from Alaska communities, villages, and recreational areas in Anchorage, with collections spanning Southcentral Alaska from Homer to McCarthy and many places in between. Through this work, students are building skills in environmental science, field research, and laboratory analysis while contributing to research that directly impacts Alaska’s waterways and communities.

At the same time, APU’s Alaska and Arctic Waterways Analytics Lab continues to prioritize a One Health approach — recognizing the deep interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. By integrating holistic perspectives and Indigenous ways of knowing alongside scientific research, students are learning how collaborative, community-informed research can lead to healthier ecosystems and stronger resilience for Alaska’s future.

🔗 Learn more: https://ow.ly/uFJi50YWIUb

🎓 Congratulations to our newest nursing graduates!

APU recently celebrated our Nursing Pinning Ceremony and graduation in Juneau, honoring the dedication, compassion, and hard work of our future healthcare leaders. 💙

A fun fact about this program is that in the past four years, APU has graduated 77 Licensed Practical Nurses across Alaska, helping strengthen healthcare in communities around the state.

Learn more about APU Nursing and the different degree pathways available through APU’s Nursing Program: https://www.alaskapacific.edu/academics/nursing/