Christine Ressler, ASRC Energy CEO and adjunct instructor, hears committee questions as she seeks University of Alaska Board of Regents seat

Christine (Christy) Ressler, CEO of ASRC Energy Services and an adjunct instructor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, presented her background to the House Education Committee on March 17 as a nominee to the University of Alaska Board of Regents. She described a career that blends industry leadership and classroom teaching and said she wants the university to “prepare students and provide opportunities for the jobs of today and the economy of the future.”

Nut graf: The committee heard detailed testimony about Ressler’s industry and teaching experience, asked whether she supported a recent Board of Regents decision to remove references to diversity, equity and inclusion from system language, and took public testimony from multiple supporters and one speaker who opposed confirmations given recent board actions. The session also included committee-level questions about federal funding, recruitment and workforce pipelines.

Ressler said she has led ASRC Energy Services since 2018, described previous teaching at the University of Houston and Alaska Pacific University, and noted she began teaching innovation classes at UAF in 2023. She highlighted industry–university partnerships she helped run and said she was inducted into an innovation hall of fame in 2024. “I’m hopeful my input to the board helps prepare students and provides opportunities for the jobs of today,” she told the committee.

Committee members pressed Ressler on several topics. Co‑chair Andy Story asked about federal funding to the university system; Ressler said she was “just getting my feet wet” on the finance committee but that the current budget included about $200 million in federal dollars and that the federal outlook was uncertain. Representative Schwanke asked how industry could support programs such as the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) and process‑tech training; Ressler said she expects industry support and pointed to process tech programs supplying skilled workers for the North Slope and Kenai region.

On the Board of Regents’ recent action to remove DEI language, Ressler described the vote as “a difficult decision” taken under a tight deadline and said the board weighed potential financial consequences. She told the committee she believed the university remained “open” and that programs supporting native studies had continued. “If I had to do that vote over again, I would vote the same way,” she said.

Public testimony was strongly supportive. Shelley Cordova (executive vice president and general counsel, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, testifying in a personal capacity) said Ressler “cares deeply about Alaska, our community, and education.” Multiple former students, colleagues and local leaders—Liam Sault, Mary Kay Hughes, Lori Davey, Gabriel Lau and Adam Lau—described Ressler’s classroom work and mentorship and urged confirmation. One online speaker, Phil Moser, testified against confirming the governor’s nominees in light of recent board actions on DEI and alleged problems with the Office of Equity and Compliance; his testimony raised concerns about campus safety and process and opposed the confirmations on that basis.

The committee opened but did not conclude any confirmation vote during the hearing; staff completed committee paperwork and noted the committee had held public testimony on the nominees in accordance with AS 39.05.080. The committee also heard public testimony on the State Board of Education nominees and on two bills later in the session.

Ending: The committee will complete paperwork and move through additional agenda items in later sessions; no final confirmation vote for Ressler was recorded in this hearing.