Fri, Jun 12, 2026
PANELISTS ANNOUNCED: UArctic Webinar on Small and Northern Colleges: Community Impact, Capacity, and Regional Resilience
Panelists have been announced for the second session of the 2026 UArctic Webinar Series on Small and Northern Colleges: Community Impact, Capacity, and Regional Resilience, taking place online on June 24, 2026, bringing together leading experts from small and Northern colleges across the Arctic.
UArctic and Memorial University are pleased to announce the panelists for the second session of the 2026 UArctic Webinar Series, which will focus on the theme of Small and Northern Colleges: Community Impact, Capacity, and Regional Resilience.
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM Newfoundland Standard Time (NST)
Location: Online (link to be shared upon registration)
This webinar brings together an exceptional group of panelists who are deeply engaged in this work across academic, community, and policy contexts:
-
Moderator: Stephen Heal - Senior Affiliated Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Director of Innovation, Frontier Economics, Member UArctic President's Circle
- Sheila Downer – Vice-President Northern Community Engagement, UArctic
- Doug Lauvstad – President and Vice-Chancellor, University College of the North
-
Jamal Shirley - Director of Innovation and Research and Science Advisor, Nunavut Research Institute, Nunavut Arctic College
-
Samuel Valkeapää - Assistant Professor and Prorektor, Sámi University of Applied Sciences
The session will highlight how these institutions support local education, workforce development, Indigenous-led education, language revitalization, culturally grounded learning, and applied research. It will also examine how partnerships with communities, governments, and regional organizations help strengthen local capacity, support community resilience, and advance long-term development across the circumpolar North.
We look forward to your participation in what promises to be an engaging and insightful discussion.