karen.perdue@alaska.edu
http://www.alaska.edu/health/
Phone: 907.450.8017 Fax: 907.474.7570

Health Programs
Suite 202 Butrovich
Fairbanks, AK 99775-5320

Karen Perdue is the Associate Vice President for Health at the University of Alaska. She was named to the position in October 2001 to help develop health and social sciences capacity throughout the university.

From 1994 to 2001, Perdue, a graduate of Stanford University, served as Alaska's Commissioner of Health and Social Services, overseeing 2,200 employees and a budget of $1.2 billion. She was the longest serving DHSS Commissioner since statehood. During her tenure, she led the state's efforts in welfare reform, the development of Denali Kidcare, Smart Start, a comprehensive initiative in primary care and fetal alcohol syndrome and many other initiatives. She co-founded the Governor's Children's Cabinet.

Perdue serves on the steering board of the National Center for Excellence on FAS, the state FAS Steering Committee, the state's Suicide Prevention Council, the Alaska Telemedicine Advisory Council and many other boards. She serves as the U. S. representative on Sustainable Development for the Arctic Council, an eight-member arctic nation forum.

She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Dot Truran Advocate Award for Persons with Disabilities, YWCA Woman of Distinction, Alaska Meritorious Health Service Award, and a Friend of EMS Award. She is an honorary public health nurse, and in 2000 was named as one of the 25 most powerful Alaskans by the Alaska Journal of Commerce.