Remembering UAF CTC Dean Emeritus Michele Stalder

In February 2026, UA and Alaska lost an extraordinary leader in education and workforce development, UAF CTC dean emeritus Michele Stalder.

Stalder began her university career in 1981 as a program administrative clerk at the Tanana Valley Community Campus and became a fierce advocate for access to education across Alaska. During her decades of service, she pioneered dualenrollment
and credit opportunities for high school students, expanded educational access to incarcerated youth in Fairbanks, and strengthened outreach in rural communities throughout the state.

In 2023, the UAF CTC Dean Michele Stalder Endowed Scholarship was created by Stalder’s colleagues in recognition of her decades of service. With a purpose that supports that which was close to Stalder’s heart, the scholarship provides financial assistance to CTC students.

Stalder’s enduring legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched and through her family, including her son, UA Foundation Board member Bill Bailey. The UA Foundation extends its deepest sympathies while honoring her legacy, which will impact future generations of Alaskans.

Story included in Partnerships that Prepare Alaska's Workforce, UA Foundation Annual Report 2026