Did you know UAF is building a new model for journalism education in the Arctic?

June 9, 2026

Have you ever tried to explain how the aurora borealis actually works? Anyone who’s faced a curious child pointing to the green ribbons dancing across the sky and asking, “How does that work?” knows the humbling difficulty of explaining science clearly.

That’s exactly what the wants to teach you.

UAF graduate Lizzy Hahn stands with fellow student Tabitha Williams outside, holding a diploma after commencement. — Lizzy Hahn, right, with fellow journalism student Tabitha Williams following UAF’s May 2026 commencement ceremony. Photo by Riga Grubis.

A student’s perspective

The program’s first graduate, Lizzy Hahn, says that’s precisely what she learned. “By getting this degree, I feel like it’s really taught me how to take scientific information and condense it so that everyone of any education level, any reading level, can read the story and know what the bottom line is.”

The department revamp, launched three years ago, came after years of declining enrollment that led to a brief merger of the journalism and communications departments.

Hahn is a lifelong Alaskan, and not just your average journalism student. She came from Nome, where her parents run the Nome Nugget. Hahn said that the program’s specialty was a strength rather than an obstacle.

“I’m super thankful to be the first graduate,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to be a scientific and climate reporter.”

UAF graduate Lizzy Hahn shakes hands with President Pitney while receiving a diploma on stage at a commencement ceremony. — Lizzy Hahn, the first graduate of UAF’s science and environmental journalism program, shakes hands with University of Alaska President Pat Pitney at the May 2026 commencement ceremony. Photo by Jonathan Wasilewski.

Hahn graduated from the program in May 2026 and headed straight to Haines for a job at the Chilkat Valley News. She credits the department faculty for her success. “I don’t think I would be here without Lynne (Snifka) and Paula (Dobbyn),” she said. Snifka is full-time faculty and is the most recent Snedden Chair, a visiting multi-year position that brings experienced journalists to UAF.

While she was in school, Hahn worked as the copy editor at The Sun Star, UAF’s student paper. She took part in the Alaska Legislative Reporter Exchange and interned at the Anchorage Daily News and Chilkat Valley News, where the latter offered her a full-time position post-graduation.

Hahn was the Sun Star reporter who broke the viral story in early 2026 of the .

Hahn’s experience speaks for itself. A student from here, trained here, working here and excited to grow here. “Being there physically, I think that is one of the most important things as a journalist. You are living in this community. You’re reporting on the community. You’re a part of the community,” she says.

A program takes shape

Professor Lynne Snifka sees incredible potential for the program to transform Alaska's reporting community and to nurture more homegrown talent. The challenge so far is not having enough funding or capacity to do broad outreach.

“People don't know that we even exist. Getting the word out is our biggest impediment,” she says.

Portrait of Lynne Snifka, chair of UAF’s Department of Science and Environmental Journalism, against a studio background. — Lynne Snifka is the new chair for the UAF Department of Science and Environmental Journalism. UAF photo.

Snifka now chairs the department after longtime chair retired this year. She has worked in television, newspapers and magazines, with stories appearing in Alaska publications and national outlets including Smithsonian and The Wall Street Journal. UAF does not plan to fill Mason’s position.

The transition to focusing the department on science and environmental journalism came from a brainstorming session between her and Mason after a turbulent period of enrollment decline.

“I started doing all this research on what could we do, what other programs are there, and I found out not much at the undergrad level,” says Snifka. They put together a focus group and were met with overwhelming support.

Where the stories are

The shift is not complicated to explain. UAF is an Arctic research university with about $256 million in research expenditures in 2025, according to the National Science Foundation. It's holds everything from early explorer journals to hand-drawn maps of Arctic expeditions to thousands of hours of oral histories from across Alaska.

Students are surrounded by researchers, fieldwork and communities that are already part of national and global conversations. The program is built around the idea that young people like Lizzy can build careers as successful journalists in Alaska.

It also means out-of-state students are getting an education that cannot be replicated elsewhere. UAF is the only Arctic university in the United States, and the research, communities and environment that define the region are part of everyday life on campus.

Looking ahead

The other big pull is the program’s ability to bring experienced journalists to UAF to teach students directly through the Snedden Chair.

Helen Snedden created the in honor of her husband, Bill Snedden, longtime publisher of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Over the years, these positions have included reporters with national reputations, including 11 Pulitzer Prize winners.

Portrait of science writer Neal Shea standing outdoors with a blurred background. — Science writer Neal Shea is the incoming Snedden Chair of Journalism at UAF. Photo courtesy of Neal Shea.

The incoming chair this year is science writer Neal Shea.

spent two decades writing for National Geographic and recently published Frost Lines, a book about the Arctic. He said the appeal of the program is straightforward.

“If you’re a student who wants to explore this kind of storytelling, I can’t think of anywhere better.”

Shea says science literacy is essential. “I think we’re at a moment where storytelling around science and the environment is only going to become more important.” He sees the department’s focus as a positive for all potential writers.

“You’re not just learning to write about science. You’re learning to make sense of what’s happening in the world.”

Snifka wants the program to grow. More students. More faculty. More connections across campus with the researchers already working in Fairbanks.

“I would like to see this program become an international hub for people who want to report and write about science and the environment,” says Snifka.

The access to scientists, field research and environmental stories unfolding in real time can hardly be overstated. Just this past month, UAF researchers published new work on frozen carbon in Arctic river deltas, the shrinking reliability of frozen lakes for cargo aircraft and new warnings tied to the 2025 Southeast Alaska landslide and tsunami.

The program is still finding its footing, but it’s no longer trying to look like every other journalism program.

It’s found its voice. That voice is rooted in place.

Go deeper

Rebecca Lawhorne is the integrated media manager for the University of Alaska System Office of Public Affairs.

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