Michele Yatchmeneff

Michele Yatchmeneff is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Executive Director for Alaska Native Education & Outreach at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). As an Unangax (Aleut) scholar, she focuses on improving STEM education outcomes for Alaska Native students through culturally responsive programs. Her work emphasizes belongingness, student retention, and community-based outreach in rural Alaska.

Education:

• PhD in Engineering Education, Purdue University (2015)
• MS in Engineering Management, UAA (2009)
• BS in Civil Engineering, UAA (2005)

Research Interests:

Her research explores Alaska Native student success in STEM fields, particularly in high school and pre-college programs. She investigates how belongingness and cultural identity influence academic achievement, with a focus on developing interventions to retain Indigenous students in engineering pathways.

Awards & Grants:

• 2020 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Co-PI for $4.5M SIGP grant
• 2018 NSF CAREER Award ($500K for Alaska Native belonging research)
• 2017 Co-PI for $3M NSF LSAMP grant

Advising & Service:

As ANSEP Assistant Director, she advised 2,500+ students and coordinated the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnerships. Her teaching includes courses like Introduction to Engineering and Environmental Systems Design.

Labs/Teams:

Leads UAA's Alaska Native Education & Outreach programs and collaborates with ANSEP to expand STEM opportunities for Indigenous communities.