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ANSEP MEETING REPORT
JAN 12, 2024
ANSEP attendees:
Jared Brandner, ANSEP Chief Financial Officer Beth Spangler, ANSEP Senior Director
Johnson Scholarship Foundation attendees:
Sharon Wood, Office Manager/Program Officer Lady Hereford, Program Specialist
Beth Spangler and Jared Brandner of ANSEP reached out to say they would be in South Florida on other business, and they requested this in-person meeting. ANSEP is in year 3 of a 3-year, $450,000 grant from JSF in support of its Acceleration Academy, Summer Bridge and University Success programs. By all accounts, these programs continue to be successful and have been able to reach more Alaska Native students thanks to JSF’s support.
The biggest news to come out of the meeting was the announcement that Dr. Herb Schroeder, the program’s Founder and Vice Provost, had retired. In his place is Dr. Matt Calhoun, one of ANSEP’s first graduates who came back to serve as a professor and Assistant Director of the program. Beth noted that Herb continues to be involved even in retirement. The rest of the leadership team remains the same.
The other news Beth shared is that ANSEP is about to adopt a new business focus, which will be announced at the annual fundraising celebration next month. This new aspect of the program will provide support for students with an interest in business, accounting finance and entrepreneurship starting in the fall of 2024. Beth was asked how many students she expects, and she said it will begin modestly at first with maybe 10 students. That’s compared to the nearly 3,000 students touched by the program now.
A question was asked about whether there are still plans for a collaborative venture in Chicago. Jared said this is still in the works. There has been communication with Chicago State University as a potential partner.
Beth and Jared said efforts are being made to involve the students in professional organizations, such as AISES, whenever possible. For instance, there were ANSEP students at the AISES conference in October. Because of the new business focus, Sharon and Lady wondered if Beth and Jared were familiar with AIBL, which has chapters in Alaska. Beth and Jared said they would be interested in learning more.
They also mentioned they would be interested in suggestions for possible speakers with a business background who could keynote their annual fundraising gala. This year’s speaker will be Commander John B. Herrington, the first Native American astronaut to fly in space.
At the meeting’s conclusion, Beth and Jared presented JSF with a pair of wooden wall hangings (one of which is shown here) by Alaska Native artist Timber Vavalis.
Post meeting note: After the meeting, Lady and Sharon connected Beth and Jared with Prairie Bighorn Blount of AIBL by email. There is an AIBL chapter at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which is the host university for ANSEP.
They also recommended Isabel “Izzy” Yasana Hawley, a Gonzaga MBA-AIE graduate who works for Nike, as a potential speaker or guest presenter. Izzy’s corporate background could be helpful as ANSEP embarks on business-related programing.
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