Dr. Charlene Stern was named Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor in May
2025, after serving as the Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education
since December 2021. Prior to that appointment, Dr. Stern taught as faculty in UAF’s
Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development receiving tenure and promotion
to the rank of Associate Professor in 2021.
Dr. Stern holds a bachelor’s degree in American cultural studies from Western Washington
University, a master’s degree in community and regional planning from the University
of New Mexico, and a doctorate in Indigenous studies from UAF. She has served as a
principal/co-investigator on numerous National Science Foundation grant projects including
Tamamta and an Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers award focused
on drones education. Dr. Stern has been awarded several fellowships including from
the Andrew K. Mellon Foundation and the Henry Luce Foundation.
Born and raised in Interior Alaska, Dr. Stern is an enrolled member of the Native
Village of Venetie Tribal Government and has served on numerous boards including Tanana
Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks Native Association, and the Arctic Research Consortium
of the United States. Prior to her career at UAF, Dr. Stern worked as a professional
planner providing technical assistance to tribal and municipal governments in Alaska.