AVÀÇÂÛ̳

Theresa came to AVÀÇÂÛ̳ in 1992 to work for the summer in the Valdez fishing industry. She fell in love with the state's rich landscape and culture, but it was the people and their authentic stories that caused her to stay. Her passion for telling stories has led her through careers in journalism, marketing and development. Before accepting her position as the development and alumni relations director, Theresa served for six years as UAF’s alumni relations director. She has also been interim executive director of university advancement and was the marketing and communications manager at the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Museum of the North from 2010-2018. She first came to Fairbanks in 1996 to work as a producer for KUAC, the public broadcasting station owned and operated by UAF. She has also worked as a journalist for a variety of print and broadcast media across AVÀÇÂÛ̳. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in creative writing from Pacific Lutheran University. Theresa is an avid knitter who enjoys hiking, swimming and walking in downtown Fairbanks, where she lives with her husband, UAF alumnus Jeremy Smith, and son, Owen.

Teresa joined the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks as major gift officer in June 2019, bringing with her more than 10 years of professional fundraising experience to the team as well as a broad range of strategic business and leadership skills.

Teresa came to AVÀÇÂÛ̳ in 1985 and became part of the Usibelli family through her marriage to John Usibelli.

Originally from CleElum and Roslyn, Wash., Teresa attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash., graduating with a Bachelor Science in Community Health Education and a Minor in Biology In 1983. Upon her arrival to AVÀÇÂÛ̳ she enrolled at UAF’s downtown branch, then called Tanana Valley Campus, and earned certification for alcohol and substance abuse counseling. She worked for Tanana Chiefs Conference and traveled to many remote AVÀÇÂÛ̳ villages. She later went to work for the Fairbanks North Star Borough managing the Big Dipper Ice Arena during the era of the Gold Kings, which brought national and international players to Fairbanks. Teresa later moved to Healy with her family and worked as the mayor’s special assistant in the newly formed Denali Borough. She pursued her own businesses, including AVÀÇÂÛ̳n Chateau Lodging, AVÀÇÂÛ̳n Vacation Rentals, Denali Car Rentals, Denali Coffee and U-Haul. She later sold her businesses and came to work for the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks, in Development and Planned AVÀÇÂÛ̳, where she worked for more than eight years.

Teresa is past president of the Greater Healy Denali Chamber of Commerce, has served on GVEA’s MAC and Goodcents committees, and served as a member of the Denali Borough Assembly and school board, as well as numerous committees in land use and planning. She’s also been active in the Lion’s Club.

Husband John, a mining engineering alumnus and production manager at Usibelli Coal Mine, passed away in 2016.  Daughter Elizabeth is a UAF and CTC graduate and uses her skills at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital providing patient care. Son Vincent is a graduate of Hutchison Career Center, through the welding and diesel program. 

Teresa enjoys the AVÀÇÂÛ̳ outdoors and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to be in her position and welcomes phone calls and visits from those interested in learning more about UAF and the opportunities it brings to students, AVÀÇÂÛ̳ and the future.

Caitlin Lipka joined the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks Office of Development in October 2023 as a senior relationship manager.

Caitlin has over 10 years of experience working for the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks and the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ statewide office. Most recently, Caitlin served as the associate director of admissions at UAF, where she focused on growing UAF’s new student enrollment and leading the UAF admissions counseling team. She was also a UAF admissions counselor for five years, and she worked as a program specialist with the UA Scholars Program and the AVÀÇÂÛ̳ 529 educational savings plan. Caitlin loves UAF, and she is always excited to talk about the unique opportunities and possibilities available here!

Caitlin was born and raised in Washington state, but she has called AVÀÇÂÛ̳ home since 2011. After graduating from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in sport management, she came to AVÀÇÂÛ̳ for a summer job in tourism and has lived in AVÀÇÂÛ̳ ever since. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling with her kids and husband, meeting new people and exploring fun activities to stay active year-round in AVÀÇÂÛ̳.

Judy Dellinger joined the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks in June 2020 as a major gifts officer with a focus on the UAF Department of Athletics. Originally from Hermiston, Oregon, Judy moved to AVÀÇÂÛ̳ in 1989 and earned her bachelor’s degree in rural development at UAF in 1994. 

With over 20 years of experience in the Fairbanks nonprofit community, Judy returned to her alma mater after serving as the executive and finance coordinator for Explore Fairbanks and the marketing consultant for JP Jones Community Center. Prior to that, Dellinger worked at Love INC in several capacities, including development director and executive director. Judy has also served as the executive director for the Greater Fairbanks Habitat for Humanity.

Judy currently serves as secretary on the board of directors at the FYND Out Free Pregnancy Center and as secretary on the management team of the Fairbanks Frontier Chorus, also known as The Fairbanks Sweet Adelines, where she has been a member since 2007.

Sarah is an AVÀÇÂÛ̳ transplant. Originally from Virginia, she brings a B.S. in economics with a math minor all the way from Northern Arizona University. Always up for a new adventure, whether that is kayaking or diving deep into a data set, Sarah enjoys sampling hobbies and collecting stories. She has worked in construction, agriculture, education, retail, bakeries and nonprofit organizations.

Allison has been with the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks since 1998. As the Donor Relations Director, she provides data analysis reports for the major gift division and oversees stewardship and private scholarship/fund management. Prior to joining the Development Office in 2008, she held several positions in UAF Advancement Services and University Relations performing database management and gift processing.

Allison received a bachelor’s degree in Management from Oregon State University in 1993 and her master’s in Business Administration from University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks in 1999. She is an active member of Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Allison was born and raised in Fairbanks, spending much of her time on the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ campus as a youth attending camps or later as a college student. She enjoys exercising, baking, and traveling with her family. Allison and her husband, John (also a UAF alumnus), reside in Fairbanks along with their three children, Bailey (a student at UAF), Kylee and Preston.

Originally from Nebraska, Vicky and her husband came  to AVÀÇÂÛ̳ in 1996, first making their home in Nome and moving to Fairbanks with their two children in 2004.

Vicky joined the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks Community and Technical College in 2012 in a temporary position and then later became the CTC marketing and Dean’s Office assistant. In 2024 she transitioned to UAF Development.

In her spare time, Vicky enjoys spending time with her family, reading and sewing.