Alaska Pacific University

Alaska Pacific University is a private university located in Anchorage, Alaska. Founded in 1957 as Alaska Methodist University, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and emphasizes liberal arts, professional studies, and graduate education. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs with a focus on experiential and place-based learning, often connected to Alaska’s environment and communities. Alaska Pacific University is known for programs in environmental science, sustainability, psychology, business, and Alaska Native studies. Its small class sizes and close-knit campus community attract students interested in hands-on learning, leadership development, and engagement with Arctic and Indigenous issues.

Alaska Pacific University was founded in 1957 in Anchorage as Alaska Methodist University, inspired by the vision of Peter Gordon Gould, an Unangax leader who advocated for higher education rooted in Alaska. The institution dedicated its campus in 1959 and began offering classes in 1960, with Donald F. Ebright serving as its first administrative president. Established as a private, Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college, it aimed to educate leaders for the state’s growing communities. In 1978, Alaska Methodist University was renamed Alaska Pacific University to reflect its broader academic mission. Over the following decades, the university expanded graduate programs and strengthened its focus on experiential and environmental learning. In 2016, Alaska Pacific University announced a partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and in 2017 it restructured governance to deepen its commitment to Alaska Native education, shaping its modern identity in Anchorage.