Dr. Mike Sfraga is the founding director of the Polar Institute. President Biden recently appointed Dr. Sfraga incoming Chairman of the United States Arctic Research Commission. Dr. Sfraga is as An Alaskan and a geographer by training, his work focuses on the changing geography of the Arctic and Antarctic landscapes, Arctic policy, and the impacts and implications of a changing climate on political, social, economic, environmental, and security regimes in the Arctic.

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Sfraga is the author of the biography Bradford Washburn: A Life of Exploration, is affiliate professor at the International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, serves as the co-director of the University of the Arctic’s Institute for Arctic Policy, and has served on a number of non-profit boards and advisory committees.

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Sfraga earned the first PhD in geography and northern studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

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