Jonathon Taylor to lead UA public affairs

December 16, 2022

Jonathon will assume the position of director of public affairs for the UA system office on January 17, succeeding Robbie Graham who is exiting due to moving out of state.

Jonathon is a lifelong Alaskan and an alum of the University of Alaska Anchorage and has held communication leadership roles in both public and private sectors.

He currently works as an account manager for Yuit Communications, a full-service public relations, communications, and marketing firm in Anchorage. He previously served as deputy press secretary to Governor Bill Walker and communications director for the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

In these roles, Jonathon gained extensive external relations experience in media, public affairs, government relations and policy development. In addition, Jonathon has served in a volunteer capacity on the UA Foundation Board of Directors, on the boards of the Pulse Dance Company and the Anchorage Community Development Authority.

As a UA alum, Jonathon brings a wealth of university knowledge and experience to the position. He earned his B.A. in political science with minors in journalism/public communications and economics. While at UAA, he held a variety of positions in club councils and student government, including as student body president. Jonathon also is an alumnus of UAA's Seawolf Debate Team and competed nationally and internationally for three years, earning multiple accolades. He is also a past member of the UAA Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Jonathon said he looks forward to bringing his experience to the university system and its work to create greater awareness about the importance of UA to the state including the role the university has in developing job skills for graduates, its role in the global Arctic, and the impact of university research on the economy.

Welcome Jonathon and in thank you to Robbie Graham for her many years of service to the university during some very trying times.