Diane Hirshberg, professor of education policy at Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER).
Dr. Diane Hirshberg will step down as director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) in June 2026. She has led the Institute since October 2021.
Hirshberg joined UAA as a professor of educational policy in 2003, shortly after obtaining a Ph.D. in education from UCLA. She has since served the university in a variety of leadership roles. Hirshberg was the founding director of the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research, served as president of UAA’s faculty senate and was the VP Academic for UArctic, an international consortium which UAA joined in 2011. She became ISER’s interim director in October 2021 and was named director in January 2022. Throughout her career at UAA, she has also remained a professor of education policy in ISER.
“It’s been an honor to lead ISER, my professional home for more than two decades,” Hirshberg said. “I’m proud of our team and our continuous efforts to inform Alaskans through policy-oriented research. I look forward to ending my leadership on a high note as ISER celebrates its 65th anniversary this May.”
In addition to 65th anniversary celebrations in Anchorage and Juneau, Hirshberg and ISER will also host the upcoming annual conference of the Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (CUPSO), an organization of public service centers and institutes at over 45 universities across the US. UAA will host the CUPSO conference May 18-20, 2026.
ISER is currently seeking applications for its next director.
Hirshberg’s last day as director is June 30, 2026, but she will remain a professor of education policy at ISER and in the UAA College of Business and Public Policy.
