Press Release: ANSEP’s New Leadership Amid Funding Cuts
University of Alaska Anchorage, May 16, 2025 — The Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) has appointed Dr. Michele Yatchmeneff as its new Chief Operating Officer at a pivotal moment, following significant funding challenges initiated by federal policy changes.
Yatchmeneff’s appointment on May 13 comes just after the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the termination of the Louis Stokes Minority grant, which had supported ANSEP since 2001. The sudden loss of $2.5 million forced the cancellation of the Summer Acceleration Academy, impacting around 50-70 students who rely on its college credit courses.
The NSF stated that the program was cut as part of a broader alignment with new priorities focusing away from diversity and equity initiatives. “It was automatically gone,” said Yatchmeneff regarding the funding cut. Despite this setback, other year-round programs at ANSEP, serving over 170 students, are expected to continue unaffected.
As the first Alaska Native to hold a Ph.D. in engineering education, Yatchmeneff emphasizes the importance of accessibility to high-level math and science education in rural areas. “A lot of the students in rural Alaska don’t even have chemistry or biology or high-level math courses available,” she stated.
The University of Alaska is navigating changes to preserve federal funding, including removing references to “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” from its branding. Yatchmeneff expressed hope that these changes would not be permanent while emphasizing her commitment to supporting Alaska Native students: “I don’t want to be the last and only.”
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