Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson was named the 12th president of Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage. When she takes office on April 25, she will be the first woman to serve as president of the university.
The private, not-for-profit educational institution enrolls about 300 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students, according to the latest data supplied to the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 67 percent of the undergraduate student body.
“I’m excited for this opportunity to lead APU into its next chapter,” Davidson said. “The university has a long tradition of providing an outstanding educational experience for students and a reputation for being a wonderful place to work, learn and grow. While this is a challenging time for the entire APU community as it is for many people around the world, together we’ll weather the storm, and it will be my honor to take the helm.”
Davidson is well known to Alaskans, having served as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services and then lieutenant governor. She previously served as senior director of legal and intergovernmental affairs for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
Davidson is a graduate of the University of Alaska Southeast, where she majored in education. She earned a law degree at the University of New Mexico.