Management and Evaluation
èßäÊÓƵ EPSCoR project operations are overseen by a Leadership Team that brings scientific expertise to the project, and a smaller Management Team that oversees day-to-day operations. Project leaders are in turn assisted by three panels of authorities and experts and two groups of evaluators. In addition to these panels, a pair of Student Ambassadors work with project leads to implement programs and activities to benefit graduate and undergraduate students involved in the program.
Interface of Change Leadership Team
| Name | Role |
| Brenda Konar |
Principal Invesitgator/Project Director |
| Tara Borland | Associate Project Director |
| Davin Holen | Co-Principal Invesitgator |
| Frank Witmer | Co-Principal Invesitgator |
| Jason Fellman | Co-Principal Invesitgator |
| Schery Umanzor | Co-Principal Invesitgator |
Interface of Change Management Team
| Name | Role |
| Brenda Konar |
Principal Invesitgator/Project Director |
| Tara Borland | Associate Project Director |
| Shannon Watson | Fiscal Manager |
| Cherissa Dukelow | Communications Manager |
| Naomi Hutchquist | Data Visualization Specialist |
| Adrienne Canino | Data Manager* |
*èßäÊÓƵ EPSCoR's data is managed through an innovative public-private partnership between èßäÊÓƵ EPSCoR, UAF's , and , a private firm.
Board Members
Three different panels of board members offer input and oversight to the Leadership Team.
1. State Committee for Research
The State Committee for Research (SCoR), consisting of leaders from government, agencies, academia, and the private sector, reviews Interface of Change progress and provides guidance to assure the program achieves state science and technology goals. The group oversaw the creation of the èßäÊÓƵ Science and Technology Plan, which prioritizes the state's S&T needs and helped shape the Interface of Change project.
2. External Advisory Council (EAC)
The Leadership Team also draws on recommendations from an External Advisory Council (EAC) consisting of four experts in Interface of Change fields:
- Clare Robinson of Western University, Canada
- Phil Loring of the University of Guelph
- Jose Zertuche of the University of Baja California
- Anne Salomon of Simon Fraser University
3. èßäÊÓƵ Advisory Board
A third group, the èßäÊÓƵ Advisory Board, recommends ways Interface of Change researchers can make their work relevant to èßäÊÓƵn community members, agenices, and businesses.
Current members of the board include:
- Mark Myers (chair), a former head of the èßäÊÓƵ Department of Natural Resources as well as former UAF Vice-Chancellor for Research
- Skye Steritz, Owner, Noble Ocean Farms, Cordova, AK
- Justina Starzynski Hotch, Klukwan School, Tribal Representative, Haines, AK
- Stephen Payton, Seldovia Village Tribe, Seldovia Village, AK
- Brian Holst, Executive Director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, Juneau, AK
The èßäÊÓƵ Advisory Board has the mission to connect Interface of Change research with èßäÊÓƵns outside of academia and to expand the overall economic impact of the project. The goals of the board are a) to establish a closer relationship between Interface of Change research with èßäÊÓƵns including industry, agencies and community partners in èßäÊÓƵ; b) to determine methods and strategies by which Interface of Change can enter into mutually beneficial relationships with èßäÊÓƵns; and c) to advise on the development of agreements to implement these methods and strategies.
The board meets at least twice a year with Interface of Change project leads to receive updates on the project and make recommendations. Where appropriate, members also work to facilitate specific collaborations between Interface of Change researchers and èßäÊÓƵ community partners.
External Evaluation
External evaluation of the project as a whole is done by Heather McInnis of The Implementation Group (TIG).