New Team Member!

Hi Everyone!!!

My name’s Brandon Ilgen, and I’m the newest member of UAF Admissions Counselor team, though I’m not new to the university itself. I’m a two time graduate of UAF - I have a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, minor in Natural Resources Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in English – and was involved with a wide range of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities during my time as a student at UAF. I came to Fairbanks from the high-mountain deserts of western Colorado, and my wife, Nastia (short for Anastasia), came here from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskii, Russia. She’s currently working on her Ph.D. in environmental chemistry. We both consider Fairbanks home, now. I have lots of stories to share about life at America’s Arctic University, and am really excited to hear your stories and about your hopes for the future.

Jessica, Ginny, Joe, Lael and the rest of the Admissions staff have given me a warm welcome here at the office – they’re still showing me the ropes. It’s a strong team, and everyone’s dedicated to helping students find their place at UAF, and I’m glad to be part of that mission.

If you have any questions about anything, drop me a note at brandon.ilgen@alaska.edu.

* Photos by Todd Paris

Learning to tie a square knot for my harness for repelling.

Yes, that is me! A week ago I had the opportunity to visit Fort Lewis in Washington for an Educator's Visit to the ROTC Leadership Development Assesment Course. I learned so much about the ROTC program and even got to try out some of the trainings cadets go through. This picture is me in full chemical warfare gear. For more information on the ROTC program here at UAF, visit: http://www.uaf.edu/ROTC/ or contact Major Kelly Nichols at rotc@uaf.edu