The Institute of Social and Economic Research at UAA has a new leader. Dr. Ralph Townsend was named the new director last week. He’ll be overseeing what he calls a broad agenda, researching and developing policy in a variety of areas for the state of Alaska.
“Natural resources, fisheries is the one that I’m sure is of great interest to your listeners. But it (ISER) also does work on educational policy, child care policy and recently has had a unit that does behavioral psychology. So it’s a pretty broad scope of activities in the social sciences. And ISER is unique in that there really isn’t another unit that provides that scope of services in Alaska.”
A native of Maine, Townsend comes from Minnesota, where he was the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Winona State University. He’s also worked internationally, serving as Chief Economist for the Ministry of Fisheries in New Zealand. He has some experience in Alaska, as well.
“I’ve done a couple of projects with ISER in the past where we were looking at fisheries self-governance; an issue that has been of interest in Alaska because of the pollock co-ops and other co-ops that have been operating. I also did a project with the National Marine Fisheries Service years ago and spent a summer in Juneau.”
Townsend’s extensive resume might have led him to any number of other positions doing research and helping develop policy, but Alaska presented the best combination of opportunities.
“I’ve always done research and public policy and an opportunity to come back to research and public service touched my heart, I guess. Alaska is a drop-dead beautiful state. And finally on the list, my daughter is a guide in Palmer. One step closer to her. No one of those alone would have done it, but collectively, they convinced my wife and I that we should come to Alaska and take on this new opportunity.”
Townsend takes over the position from a retiring Dr. Gunnar Knapp, who had held the post since 2013.