News Release

Jeff Rasic Selected as the Alaska Region Science Advisor

Date: July 17, 2023
Contact: [e-mail]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—The National Park Service has selected long-time NPS employee Jeff Rasic as the Alaska Region Science Advisor and lead for the Cooperative Ecosystems Study Unit (CESU) for Alaska. Jeff comes to the position from Gates of the Arctic National Park and Yukon-Charley Rivers Preserve (YUGA) where he has served as the Chief of Integrated Resources Management since 2013.  

In his new role Jeff will coordinate an integrated program of natural, social, and cultural resource research, as well as all NPS/federal agency programs working with Alaska CESU academic partners through University of Alaska system. Jeff will also serve as science liaison with other federal research and land management agencies, universities, and Alaska Native entities. He will develop partnerships and secure outside sources of support from Federal, State, academic and private organizations in conducting cooperative research efforts. Jeff will also serve as a permanent member of the national network of CESUs, providing the NPS with technical leadership in an integrated program of research, technical assistance, and education at the regional and service wide levels.

“During his time at YUGA, Jeff has been engaged in challenging issues such as the proposed Ambler Road and state intensive management programs,” said Grant Hilderbrand, Associate Regional Director for Resources. “Jeff brings a strong academic publication record to this position as well as a track record as an effective mentor,” Hilderbrand said.

“I can't wait to renew and deepen my contacts with and knowledge of the incredible resources, staff specialists and managers at all of these places,” said Rasic. “My academic background is in Anthropology and I spent much of my career as an archaeologist, learning about Alaska's people and history and branching into soil, sediments, geology, wildlife and subsistence,” Rasic said.  

After earning his Ph.D. in Anthropology from Washington State University, Jeff worked for several parks in Alaska since first arriving in 1995 and has worked across Alaska from Utqiagvik to Dutch Harbor and Sitka to Kotzebue. Through his work and academic pursuits, Jeff has benefitted greatly from his extensive time learning from rural Native and non-Native Alaskans.

His first day in his new role will be July 28.  Jeff lives and will stay in Fairbanks with his wife Julie and two teenage sons where he enjoys floating rivers, baking bread, stacking firewood, and fending off attacks from two small but relentless schnauzers.