AUUF Podcasts

Patrick Ryan has been the Education Specialist at the Alaska Botanical Garden for 15 years. He has taught first grade for 21 years. As a speaker, he has presented at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conferences and the Garden Writers Symposium. He sits on the Board of Alaska Agriculture in the Classroom. He gardens daily with kids in ABG’s 21st Century Schools program.

Anchorage attorney Margaret Stock is a nationally recognized authority on immigration issues. In 2013 she won the MacArthur genius grant for her work on three important immigration programs for the U.S. military. She is a graduate of Boston University, the Harvard Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Margaret is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve, and has taught immigration law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In 2016 she ran as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate seat for Alaska.

Gary has been the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship's Called Minister since 2012.

Diddy R. M. Hitchins is a professor emerita at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where, during her distinguished 30-year career, she chaired the Political Science department and served as director of International Studies. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Hitchins was raised in southern England. There she earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences at the University of Southampton, and an MA in political behavior and a PhD in government at the University of Essex. Her academic research has included time spent in Canada, China, Japan, the Koreas, Russia and West Africa. Hitchins is founding director of UAA’s Canadian and North Pacific Studies Programs. Since 1985 she’s served as British Honorary Consul for Alaska, and in 2005 Queen Elizabeth II honored her with the Member of British Empire (MBE) award.

Gary has been the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship's Called Minister since 2012.

Berta Gardner has represented Midtown Anchorage District I in the Alaska State Senate since 2012. Reflecting her Fellowship values, she has always been active in volunteering in schools, community councils, and neighborhood groups. This eventually led to her serving in the Alaska State House from 2004 until her election to the State Senate. She now serves as the leader of Senate Minority Caucus.

Celebrating RE Teachers and bridging our Youth Group graduating seniors, Luke Gayle, Sarah Harris, and Charlotte Mitchell.

Dan Bigley was blinded by a grizzly bear attack and survived to co-write the bestselling book "Beyond the Bear" with Debra McKinney. Before the bear, he worked with severely emotionally disturbed children, taking them on recreational outings for Alaska Children's Services. After the bear, he earned a master's degree in social work from UAA. Now, Dan travels the country as an inspirational speaker, is the director of therapeutic foster care for Denali Family Services, and received a 2008 Alaskan of the Year Award by the Governor's Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities. He's also a talented musician and leader of the Dan Bigley Band, living with his wife, Amber, and two children in Anchorage.

Dennis Arashiro is the son of a Japanese American soldier and his Japanese war bride. After an early childhood in Hawaii, he came to Alaska in 1961 and made Alaska his lifelong home. A graduate of East High School and Alaska Methodist University, he has taught in the Anchorage School District for 45 years. Arashiro has been a member of the Anchorage UUF Fellowship for 9 years, and chaired AUUF’s Social Justice Committee for a number of years.

Panel discussion/presentation on Mothers Day