UTQIAĠVIK (Barrow), AK (October 2, 2020) — It is with deep gratitude and appreciation that Iḷisaġvik College, the Iḷisaġvik College Board of Trustees and the North Slope Community thank Dr. Pearl Brower for her 13 years of service, with eight served as President.
Brower began her service in 2007 in External Relations, Communications and Advancement and also as the Dean of Students, transitioning to President of Iḷisaġvik in 2012. Under the eight years of the Brower presidency, Iḷisaġvik College has seen a host of key developments.
Under the Brower Administration, Iḷisaġvik made continued education more accessible via the various tuition waivers offered for North Slope residents and Alaska Natives/Native Americans statewide; the growth of expansive partnerships across Alaska; and emphasized the importance of Iñupiaq with the Unapologetically Iñupiaq Initiative and Policy, instituting Cultural Hour and other programming, as well as the creation of the Indigenous Learning Program, created during her tenure as President. Iḷisaġvik College is now proud to also offer its first four-year bachelor’s degree program in Business Administration.
President Brower led the development of the New Iḷisaġvik College Campus Campaign, is a co-founder of the Northern Alaska Indigenous Leadership Academy, worked to elevate statewide knowledge and awareness of the College, and prioritized connecting with all the villages on the North Slope, with Iḷisaġvik making an average of 100 trips to North Slope communities each year.
Other advances include Iḷisaġvik’s partnership with Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The two organizations worked together to achieve accreditation of the Dental Health Aid Training program, which is the first Dental Health Therapy Program in the nation to be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
“Thank you Dr. Brower for your 13 years of service, with eight in the position of President. Iḷisaġvik College is in a better position to meet the needs of our students, people and region, because of your dedication and leadership. We look forward to continuing to work with you to advance Alaska Native and tribal education in future capacities,” said Chairperson Lane on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
With President Brower’s departure, President Justina Wilhelm is the new Iḷisaġvik College President. “I am humbled to be afforded the opportunity to serve as Iḷisaġvik College’s next President. I look forward to my new role and am blessed to have this opportunity,” said President Justina Wilhelm.