Whitney, Brinkman named associate vice chancellors for research
Aug. 31, 2026
Erin Whitney and Todd Brinkman have been named as half-time associate vice chancellors for research. The two positions constitute previous roles within the VCR office that have been vacant for some time. The positions provide leadership and capacity for specific research administration, development and partnership activities.
Whitney served as research faculty at UAF’s Alaska Center for Energy and Power for nearly a decade, moving through the ranks to research professor before becoming director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Arctic Energy Office in 2023. She returns to the university with rich federal and industry connections to continue growing research, partnerships and innovation.
Originally from Alaska, she earned her Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 2006 from the University of Colorado at Boulder, followed by postdoctoral and staff appointments at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (now the National Laboratory of the Rockies). Her research has focused on a wide variety of energy applications in the Arctic, and her policy work has prioritized a holistic community approach. She will start Sept. 6.
As of July 1, Brinkman converted from a research faculty fellow to AVCR, increasing his administrative load slightly. In this role, he will continue to direct the UAF Animal Resources Center alongside attending veterinarian Nina Hansen, while expanding his duties in research development. Brinkman will continue to serve as a professor of wildlife ecology, with a joint appointment in the Institute of Arctic Biology and the College of Natural Science and Mathematics.
Brinkman earned his Ph.D. in 2009 from UAF. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at UAF, Brinkman transitioned to a faculty position at UAF in 2011. Brinkman's professional career has focused on large mammal ecology and the human dimensions of wildlife science, which aligns well with his role.