Milan Shipka named acting director of SNRE

Milan Shipka

Milan Shipka has been named acting director of the School of Natural Resources and Extension.

UAF Provost Anupma Prakash appointed Shipka to the position on Feb. 11. SNRE includes the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (AFES) and the school’s academic degree programs.

On July 1, the academic programs will move into the College of Natural Science and Mathematics as part of a university reorganization. Shipka will then serve as the acting director for the combined AFES and Extension unit.

The provost said, “Milan Shipka brings a deep understanding of UAF’s land-grant mission, a vast experience of managing capacity building grants and contracts, and a strong and inclusive leadership style. I look forward to working with him to reinvigorate the programs and activities supported by SNRE.”

Shipka earned a doctorate in biology with an emphasis on animal physiology in 1996 from Utah State University and has been with UAF since 1999. He became the research director for SNRE and director for the Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station in 2015. A professor of animal science, Shipka has maintained teaching and research activity in animal science and sustainable agriculture, and works with livestock producers throughout the state.

Shipka takes on the leadership of SNRE from Fred Schlutt, who plans to move to Texas, his home state. Schlutt, formerly the vice provost for Extension and Outreach, served as the Cooperative Extension Service director since May 2009.