Remembering Elizabeth Arnold, UAA professor and journalist

UAA Journalism and Public Communications professor, KTOO reporter and former National Public Radio correspondent Elizabeth Arnold has died at the age of 66. According to a family statement given to KTOO, Arnold died in her home from endometrial cancer complications on Thursday, June 18.

Arnold was a longtime broadcast journalist, and for over 20 years she provided the public with information covering politics, human behavior, global wildlife and climate change.

After starting her journalism career in Bethel at the Tundra Drums, she went on to reporting internationally while working for multiple news sources including National Public Radio — or NPR — National Geographic, Marketplace, BBC, CBC and America Abroad.

KTOO reported that Arnold covered the Exxon Valdez oil spill from afar after leaving Alaska the day before to work at NPR headquarters in Washington. 

Arnold covered Bill Clinton and Bob Dole’s respective presidential campaigns, Tibetan mountain climate changes and boarded a scientific expedition to the Bering Sea on U.S. and Russian icebreaker ships. 

With the aim to inform those living outside the region, Arnold created the website Arctic Profiles — a website dedicated to reporting the lives of those who live in the Russian Far East, Alaska and the Bering Sea.

She was also the founder of Alaska News Coalition, founder and board member of the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism and a co-founder of the Reporter Exchange Program.

Throughout her tenure at UAA as a Journalism and Public Communications (JPC) professor, Arnold taught classes including Podcasting, Multimedia Journalism, Radio News Reporting and First Amendment Media Ethics.

According to KTOO, First Amendment Media Ethics was Arnold’s favorite class to teach, and she had previously described the class as the most confounding to students.

All UAA journalism students must take First Amendment Media Ethics and many students, including many of The Northern Light current and former staff, remember taking this class under Arnold for the last 17 years.

The class was simple yet heavy. Students would read multiple cases each week and write an opinion on one. At the start of the following class, students were expected to be prepared to discuss each case and their ethical stance. A question was posed and students would answer.

Discussions could turn into debates, and some were more intense than others — but each class was exciting and every session students left with a lesson learned.

Whether educating and confounding generations of students or discussing life outside of the classroom, Arnold always created a space for open discussion and used her rich voice proudly to speak her mind.

Students of Arnold may remember her passion about ethics and student outcomes, her tenacity, humility, transparency about life’s challenges, commitment to staying active and her unrelenting support to students. 

Arnold had received many awards throughout her career including the Alfred Dupont Columbia Journalism Silver Baton in 1994-95 and the 1997 Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting on Congress. Alaska Press Club awarded Arnold with its First Amendment Award in April, recognizing her contribution to journalistic ethics and standards.

However, Arnold’s legacy resides in the impact she made with students, colleagues, family and friends.

The Northern Light contacted several of Arnold’s former UAA students for comment on Arnold’s death. 

Recent graduate Trevor Thompson remembers Arnold as his favorite professor amongst many throughout his academic career that spanned multiple universities. “The community will miss her,” said Thompson.

Former UAA student and managing editor for The Northern Light Mary Morehouse remembered Arnold’s cheery presence and said, “every day without fail, she walked briskly into class saying, ‘Hi everybody!’ with such joy. That simple greeting changed the atmosphere of the entire class.” Morehouse said she learned how to give and receive constructive criticism in Arnold’s classes. 

Former UAA JPC student and The Northern Light reporter Chase Burnett said, “Professor Arnold helped me identify my passion for storytelling and journalism. Her teaching approach created an environment of curiosity and allowed me to find a clearer path forward in my studies. I truly believe she helped me succeed and I know the department, university and community will be missing a bright light from her passing. Her contributions will not be forgotten.”

Former UAA JPC student, KRUA station manager and Media Board representative Aud Pleas gave a comment. 

“One thing, if any, Elizabeth taught me is the importance of showing up and assisting in creating visibility. I’ll never have enough words to explain how Elizabeth Arnold has and continues to change my life,” said Pleas. “You’ll continue to see the essence of her investments show up throughout the country for the next century. Godspeed Arnold, you did damn good my friend.”

Recent JPC graduate and former Media Board representative Avery Williamson said classes were challenging but she always looked forward to seeing Arnold. “She had a remarkable ability to make every class academic, philosophical, and fun all at the same time. Professor Arnold was truly one of a kind, and I will always cherish the impact she had on my life and on so many others,” said Williamson. 

“She had an infectious laugh and a smile that you couldn’t help but return,” said Williamson. “I can’t even begin to express how great of a loss this is, not only for UAA and the Journalism Department, but for the entire community.” 

Arnold also worked as an academic advisor on UAA’s Media Board, which encapsulates The Northern Light and KRUA. It was a privilege to work under Arnold’s professional and academic guidance. The Northern Light staff will remember Arnold for her kindness, unwavering support and her passion for radio.