Friday Focus: Appreciation for building coordinators
Kellie Fritze, associate vice chancellor for facilities
Jan. 30, 2026
— By Kellie Fritze, associate vice chancellor for facilities
As we move into February and settle into the spring semester, I want to take a moment to recognize UAF’s building coordinators. This program is one of those behind-the-scenes efforts that helps campus run smoothly every day, often without much fanfare, but with a big impact. It works because these individuals know their buildings well, pay attention to the details, and help flag issues early so small problems don’t become bigger ones – for the benefit of the entire UAF community.
The Building Coordinator Program exists to strengthen communication and collaboration between building users and Facilities Services, the University Fire and Police departments, and Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management. At its heart, the program is about stewardship: taking care of our facilities, supporting safe and functional spaces, and ensuring concerns are heard, communicated, and addressed.
To support this work, Facilities Services also focuses on regular connection and information-sharing with building coordinators. Each fall, we host a Facilities Services Open House that provides an overview of the wide range of services Facilities provides. While the event is directed toward building coordinators, it is open to the entire campus.
In addition, we are planning to begin a spring “Connection” meeting specifically for building coordinators, focused on refreshing processes, sharing updates and creating space for questions and feedback.
Building coordinators serve as a key point of connection for their buildings. They represent building occupants, help identify and communicate building-wide issues, submit and track work requests, share information related to outages or maintenance, and support safety and emergency preparedness. Just as importantly, they help ensure information flows both ways – so Facilities Services understands what’s happening in campus buildings and occupants know what to expect, who to contact, and where to turn with questions.
In some areas, serving as a building coordinator is formally included as part of an assigned position; in many others, it falls under "other duties as assigned." Regardless of how the role is structured, the impact is the same and so is our appreciation. Whether this responsibility is written into a job description or picked up along the way, the commitment, responsiveness, and care shown by our building coordinators make a real difference across campus. Several coordinators support more than one facility, and that extra effort does not go unnoticed. We are especially grateful for the added time, care and commitment this represents.
Below is a list of our current building coordinators. Facilities Services extends sincere thanks to each of them – and if you see one around campus, please take a moment to thank them as well!
Building - Building coordinator(s) (primary listed first when applicable)
- Akasofu Building - DeVonna Arnold
- Alfred A. Owen Building - Joshua Bateman
- Arctic Health Research Building - Dan Uliassi
- Aurora Building - Dan Bates
- Bioscience Research & Diagnostic Building - Ron Standlee Strom; Chris Terzi
- Brooks Building - Kirsten McGraw; Catherine Moses
- Bunnell Building - Brant Schalk
- Bunnell House - Jenny Taylor; Pammy Fowler
- Butrovich Building - Seb Hathaway
- Chapman Building - Kellie Dolan
- Constitution Hall - Deanna Lazarus
- Duckering Building - Jason Garron
- Eielson Memorial Building - Mandi Goddard
- Elvey Building - Tracy Durnan; Robyn Frick
- Fairbanks Experiment Farm - Kieran Gleason
- Fine Arts / Arts - Abby Druckenmiller; Scott Hansen
- Fine Arts / Music / Concert - Scott Hansen
- Fine Arts / Theatre / KUAC / Great Hall - Kade Mendelowitz
- Forestry Research Building - Katrina Paul; Alex Wilson
- Gruening Building - Shea Monsey Linnell
- Harper Building - Kirsten McGraw
- Health, Safety & Security Building - Margaret Kellogg (SH&C section)
- Hutchison Career Center - Jenisa Pepperling
- Irving Building I - Dan Uliassi
- Irving Building II - Cheryl Clarke Hopcroft; Barbara Wadlinger
- LARS Facilities - Ron Standlee Strom; John Blake
- Lola Tilly Building - Noel Rathbun
- Murie Building - Dan Uliassi; Rachel Elmer
- O’Neill Building - Cheryl Clarke Hopcroft; Barbara Wadlinger
- Patty Center - Ryan Lahr; Mark Oldmixon
- Patty Ice Arena - Daniel Waldroup; Mark Oldmixon
- Physical Plant - Karrah Hearns
- Rasmuson Library - Wendy Frandsen; Tyler Walker
- Reichardt Building - Jami Warrick; Jessica Mitchell
- Rural Education Center, Tok - Crystal Wilson
- Schaible House - Kerynn Fisher
- Signers’ Hall - Meagan Janssen
- State of Ӱԭ Virology Lab - Nisha Fowler; Wenonah Lefthand
- Student Recreation Center - Mark Oldmixon; David McCain
- Tok Center Garage - Crystal Wilson
- UAF Community & Technical College - Dianna James
- University of Ӱԭ Museum of the North - Kevin May; Angela Linn
- University Park - Open
- Usibelli Building - Jason Garron
- West Ridge Research Building - Tracy Durnan; Robyn Frick
- Whitaker Building - Open
- Wood Center - Edward Tinajero
Interested in Volunteering?
Each major building ideally has a primary and a backup building coordinator, and there are areas where additional coverage would be especially helpful. You don’t need technical expertise, just a willingness to observe, communicate and collaborate.
If you are interested in learning more, please visit the Facilities Services Building Coordinator webpage or reach out to the Building Coordinator Program manager, Karrah Hearns, at krhearns@alaska.edu or 907-474-7617.
To all of our building coordinators, thank you for your time, your partnership and your commitment to UAF as we move through the spring semester and beyond. Campus works better because of you!
Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of UAF's leadership team every week. On occasion, a guest writer is invited to contribute a column.