UAA College of Business and Public Policy

Vic Fischer Undergraduate Research Award Established

February 21, 2023

The Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) has established the annual Vic Fischer Undergraduate Research Award to provide financial support to an exemplary UAA undergraduate student in the social sciences or other applicable fields interested in studying public policy issues in Alaska or the Arctic. The fund was established through a generous gift from Marcia and Dave Trudgeon. Trudgen served as the former ISER Associate Director and is UAA staff alumna.

Students who receive this award will conduct research and contribute analyses to projects and publications under the guidance of researchers at ISER. Projects can be independent research projects related to ISER work or a discrete part of an existing ISER research effort.

“I am so excited to be launching this initiative in Vic’s honor!” said Diane Hirshberg, ISER Director and Professor of Education Policy. “Vic has mentored young researchers at ISER for decades, myself included, and many of them have gone on to prominent roles across the university, state, and beyond. Moreover, undergraduate researchers contribute really valuable energy and ideas to ISER projects, and we look forward to being able to institutionalize an undergraduate research initiative at the institute to continue this long tradition. I could think of no better way to recognize Vic’s profound contribution to ISER and to research that has helped shape Alaska and the North.”

The first Vic Fischer Undergraduate Research Award is expected to be awarded in Fall 2023. Details for the application/nomination process will be announced in advance.

ISER sits within UAA’s College of Business and Public Policy and has been at the forefront of public policy research in Alaska for more than 60 years. ISER’s multidisciplinary staff study critical economic and social issues in Alaska, the Arctic, and similar regions by engaging in basic and applied research to better understand those issues.

About Vic Fischer

Vic Fischer was the first director at ISER, where he built a strong and lasting community of scholars. He encouraged collaboration with others outside Alaska and outside the U.S. As the visionary behind the creation of UAA’s American Russian Center, he nurtured relationships with the Russian Far East. Throughout his many endeavors, he continued a connection with ISER researchers. He received the honor of Director Emeritus in 1996, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UAA in 2006.

Fischer was also a delegate to the Alaska Constitutional Convention in 1955-56, and served in both the Alaska territorial legislature and the Alaska state legislature.