AVÀÇÂÛ̳

As the daughter of a public-school teacher, Meredith Cameron grew up in many places around AVÀÇÂÛ̳, including Fairbanks, St. Mary’s and Wrangell. After graduating from high school in Fairbanks, she went as far away as she could to college in New York. Realizing that wasn’t for her, Cameron transferred home to UAF and found her fit. She was involved in student government and worked for the UAF Leadership Program.

Graduating in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science, Cameron spent the next six years working in the AVÀÇÂÛ̳ State Legislature, often advocating for the University. She left the legislative life in 2015 for a graduate level internship in Washington, D.C. working on ocean policy, which led to her current position with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At NOAA she serves as the Chief of Staff for the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. As a lifetime UAFAA member, she has participated in fundraising and events both in D.C. and AVÀÇÂÛ̳. Cameron resides in Anchorage with her boyfriend and their pandemic puppy named Penelope.

Valerie was born and raised in Palmer, AVÀÇÂÛ̳ and attended the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks and graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Elementary Education. After graduation she was a substitute teacher, was hired by the Catholic Schools of Fairbanks to teach second grade, and then was hired in 1978 by the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District as an elementary teacher at Hunter Elementary. In 1988 she was hired as an Elementary School Counselor at Pearl Creek Elementary and Two Rivers Elementary, after two years was full-time at Pearl Creek. Valerie established Fireweed Counseling, her part-time private counseling practice in 1993. During these years she taught at UAF in the Master’s in Counseling Program. In 2002 she moved to Anchorage, AVÀÇÂÛ̳ to assist her elderly mother and taught at UAA in the Master’s in Counseling Program and opened up Demming Counseling Services. In 2004 she was accepted into the Saybrook Graduate program in Psychology and graduated with her Philosophy degree in 2009. Her Dissertation was titled: Young Women’s Reflections On Their Life Experiences With Self-Injurious Behaviors And Issues Of Grief And Loss: Implications For Treatment Of Adolescent Girls. In 2021 Valerie returned to Fairbanks and continues her counseling practice via Telehealth with her clients. She is actively involved in the AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Association of Collaborative Professionals which assists couples in obtaining a divorce without litigation. She has an adult daughter who lives with her husband and Valerie’s two grandchildren. She enjoys reading, flower gardening, hanging out with her grandchildren, traveling, and having breakfast with friends.

As a two-time graduate and former employee of the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks, there is much I’ve gained from UAF. Now, I’d like to give back and serve the university as a member of the UAF Alumni Association Board. It’s with enthusiasm that I share my interest in running for Seat 6-B, the At-large position. 

At UAF, I was exposed to unique experiences that helped shape who I am today. Aside from gaining a top-notch education, I built a professional network at the university and gained life-long friends, while taking part in engagement, fundraising, and volunteer activities. I want to help ensure others benefit from the university too. From the moment a student enrolls for their first UAF course, to graduation, and beyond, it’s important UAF students and alumni understand they are part of something larger than themselves – they are AVÀÇÂÛ̳’s best and brightest with tremendous potential. A strong alumni association can deliver this message. As the Seat 6-B board member, I commit to bringing my education, experience and expertise to the role.  

I became a Nanook in 1995. I was a shy first-generation college student who grew up in North Pole, AVÀÇÂÛ̳. I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life and was unable to imagine a life beyond the Interior. By the time I graduated in 2000, I secured a position as a local reporter and put my journalism degree to work. Within a few years, I gained the confidence and skills to work for a statewide monthly publication in Anchorage. Later, I returned to UAF, serving as information officer at the Geophysical Institute for nearly a decade, sharing the world-class research underway at the institute to a variety of audiences. Using the tuition waiver offered to UAF employees, I gained a MFA in creative writing from the university in 2010. My career at UAF culminated with positions within the development and marketing and communications departments. However, after nearly two decades as a university employee, I felt it was time to make the leap and I relocated to Arlington, Texas in 2017.

Today, I work in corporate communications where I manage media relations and social media at a defense company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m a mother of four, an avid reader, and enjoy hiking with my husband. We live in a fixer-upper on the southeast side of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. I maintain many friendships with those in the Fairbanks area and I’m always eager to tout my AVÀÇÂÛ̳ heritage in the Lone Star State.

In addition to my passion for UAF, Nanook Nation and the Fairbanks community, I can share these skills with the board and alumni:

•       Advocacy and fundraising experience
•       A history of community service and employee engagement
•       Communications and marketing strategy experience
•       Writing and editing know-how  

Darryl Anthony Lewis, Sr. was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, to (the late) Elnora Lewis, and is the eldest of six siblings. After graduating from Columbus South High School in 1983 and earning an Associate of Arts Degree in Journalism from Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California in 1985, he, reluctantly, came to UAF in September 1985 as a member of the Nanook Men’s Basketball squad. Initially, he was planning to spend a maximum of three years in Fairbanks and then return to his family in Ohio.  However, his gratitude towards UAF for the opportunity to further his education and earn a scholarship to play basketball, along with a genuine love for Fairbanks and AVÀÇÂÛ̳ changed all of that.

After receiving a BA in Journalism/Broadcasting in 1988, Darryl immersed himself in the community while remaining passionate about his involvement in UAF activities. He was a member of the original organizing committee for the BP Top of the World Classic Basketball Tournament. Darryl was also on the selection committee that brought Head Coach Al Sokaitis to Fairbanks along with the greatest run of success in the team’s history.

Darryl also served as an Assistant Coach for the UAF Men’s Basketball team (1996-1997) and the UAF Women’s Basketball Team (2005-2006). During his 28 years in the Fairbanks community, Darryl carved a tremendous legacy, not only IN Fairbanks but also “on the Hill, My Alma Mater, the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks, “an on-air catchphrase used during his media career.  

A desire to serve UAF did not end after Darryl moved to the State of Colorado in 2013 to be closer to family.  Since that time, Darryl has juggled a busy schedule as a Captain/Shift Commander with the Colorado Department of Corrections to regularly return to Fairbanks and participate in UAF Activities.  He has proudly represented the UAF Alumni Association during the Golden Days Parade annually, among many other endeavors.  

In 2021, he was elected to serve on the UAF Alumni Association Board of Directors, currently occupying Seat-6 At-large. Serving his first term on the board has truly been an inspiration as Darryl not only serves in Fairbanks but also assists UAF from a distance, attending sporting events whenever the Nanooks come to play in Colorado and appearing at events aimed at drawing perspective students to Fairbanks.

Currently seeking re-election to this board representing UAF alumni isn’t bad for someone who initially had reservations about going to Fairbanks and who had only planned on staying three years, graduating, then returning home to Columbus.

Tim Lamkin ‘96 profoundly loved his experience at UAF and wants to give back to the UAF community. He graduated with honors from Wasilla High School (1988), is a former ASUAF President (1990), and Student Regent (1991-93). He had the honor of being the first and, to date the only ever Student Regent to be elected to the UA Regents Executive Board (as vice president), and presided over his own graduation ceremony.

Having studied political science (BA) and international business (BBA) at UAF, Tim has since applied his education toward 28 years of work in the AK State Legislature. He is serving as senior staff focused on state budget and policy for the K-12 and UA education systems, statewide fisheries, public health, and training-level knowledge of the AK legislative institutional process.

Tim has also made a 34-year summer seasonal career in the private tourism industry in the Fairbanks area (Gold Dredge 8). He presently serves on the AK State Council on the Arts and brings experience both in fundraising strategies and leadership on a variety of other non-profit boards. His daughter is currently a junior at UAF and his son is scheduled to enroll as a UAF freshman in Fall 2025.