Updated 06/13/2024 with a statement from University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Indigenous Studies.
Barbara Amarok, Director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Northwest Campus (UAF NW), resigned from her position on Friday, May 31. Amarok served as Director of the Nome-based campus since June 2019. According to UAF NW, Amarok is retiring.
Amarok is an Inupiaq Alaska Native from Nome. After earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education she returned to Nome and worked for Nome Public Schools for 20 years. Amarok later earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Alaska Anchorage and a doctoral degree in indigenous education from UAF.
Amarok previously served as the Village Program Coordinator and taught ED 420 Alaska Native Education for educators in the Bering Strait region.
Her departure comes just over one week after the College of Rural and Community Development was renamed to the College of Indigenous Studies. UAF NW housed one of five community campus locations for the college.
Interim Dean of the UAF College of Indigenous Studies, Veronica Plumb, will oversee the search for a replacement. UAF College of Indigenous Studies provided the following statement regarding her departure:
"The Director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Northwest Campus, Barb Amarok, is retiring. Dean Veronica Plumb will serve as the acting Director for the UAF Northwest Campus. We thank Barb Amarok for her many years of service to the UAF Northwest Campus and dedication to the Nome community. Please do not hesitate to contact Dean Plumb's office at 907.474.6618 if you have any questions."
Amarok did not respond to a request for comment.
