Dayna DeFeo named director of CAEPR, Diane Hirshberg to focus on Arctic research

Diane Hirshberg, founding director of the Center for Alaska Education Research at ISER since 2009, has decided to focus on a new goal: building UAA’s, ISER’s, and her own Arctic research portfolio. Dayna DeFeo, Senior Researcher at CAEPR since 2014, will now become the Director, a job she sees as "an exciting challenge." 

Dr. Hirshberg, Professor of Education Policy at ISER, plans to continue doing some education research at CAEPR. But she said her broader interest in Arctic research increased in recent years, as she studied Indigenous and Arctic education issues and served as Advisor to UAA 's chancellor on Arctic research and education. 

As the new Director of CAEPR, Dr. DeFeo will continue working with a wide range of groups interested in education issues, and work to build CAEPR’s research agenda in three areas: college and career readiness, teacher supply and demand, and Indigenous and Arctic education.