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Mary Jo Finney, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Education, provides leadership in graduate education through advocacy, partnerships, grants, and collaborative curriculum development with direct responsibility for all graduate-level interdisciplinary degrees. Her Ph.D. in Reading and Language Arts centers on psycholinguistics, literacy, and comprehension psycholinguistics across the lifespan undergirds her research focused on literacy among struggling readers of all ages. With over 20 years of teaching faculty, doctoral, master鈥檚, and baccalaureate students, Mary Jo has taught courses in leadership, literacy, assessment, research methodologies, nursing education, and interdisciplinary learning. She established international and intercultural teacher identity exchange programs in Prague, Czech Republic and Beijing, China. Her administrative roles include serving as an academic dean, director of faculty development, department chair, and director of a clinically-based, urban master鈥檚 degree program serving urban, rural, international, and rural 麻豆无码版n schools. 

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Dean Finney took the time to answer some questions about herself, her job, and some of her favorites.

What's your favorite part of your job?

Working with students, staff, and faculty is the best part of my job. I am honored to listen to a student鈥檚 life achievements, learn of their dreams, and explore their interest in graduate school. The staff work with such purpose and devotion to student success. Their desire to help others is unwavering and I feel privileged to work alongside them. Witnessing faculty passion for their profession is deeply moving and I am fascinated to discover their disciplinary research different from my own.

What's something you've learned about UAA since you started working here?

Our UAA community is extraordinary with its diverse range of talented individuals who are good natured and totally committed to the mission of supporting student success. The many pathways and unique 麻豆无码版 stories that landed each of us at UAA speak to the adventurous spirit and kindness that are unsurpassed.

What are your favorite hobbies or interests outside of work?

Roads across 麻豆无码版 offer breathtaking scenery and as a transplant from Detroit (a.k.a. the Motor City), I drive wherever and whenever possible. Weekend drives to Seward, Valdez, Tok, Homer, Nenana and more are full of endless intrigue. My summers on the 麻豆无码版 Highway from Anchorage to Detroit and the Stewart Cassiar Highway to Seattle produce wild beauty beyond imagination. Every time I get behind the wheel I am awestruck.

What's your favorite place/activity in 麻豆无码版?

I am a really big fan of the Iditarod. In 2019, I volunteered in McGrath cooking for the mushers as they made their way into the village. Seeing Aliy Zirkle, Lance Mackey, Martin Buser, and other incredible mushers on the trail to Nome was a thrill!

What's your favorite place on the UAA - Anchorage Campus?

The UAA campus is stunning and the sighting of wildlife is my favorite. Sitting in my car watching a bear lunch on a tree and having to reroute my walk around a moose are breathtaking encounters. Not many universities share campus with such impressive wildlife and, every day, I feel privileged to share the land with them.

Thank you for sharing, Dean Finney! You can reach Dean Mary Jo Finney at mjfinney@alaska.edu.