APU Hires Chief Advancement Officer
Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Pacific University (APU) hired Allison Knox as Chief Advancement Officer. In this position, she is responsible for fundraising strategy, alumni relations, corporate and foundation relations, sponsored programs, and major gifts.
Over the past thirty years, Knox has worked in the Alaska Native healthcare system and for Alaska Native corporations and nonprofit organizations. Her undergraduate education and professional career have mainly been in public relations and strategic communications.
An Alaska Native of Athabascan heritage, Knox utilized the educational support of The CIRI Foundation and Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium employee scholarship program to earn an MBA with an emphasis in health services administration from APU in 2020.
She has served as a media leader for the alpine venue of the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Anchorage, served as a press liaison at the 2002 Winter Olympics alpine venue in Utah, handled media relations for the 2003 World Mountain Running Trophy in Girdwood, and was the publicity chair for the Alaska Run for Women and Alaska Ski for Women. She started working at APU on January 2, 2024.
“I am thrilled to join the APU team and look forward to reestablishing historical relationships in the community, engaging our alumni, and broadening awareness of APU’s unique offerings,” Knox says. “In addition to cultivating philanthropy, I am excited to join the journey to becoming a Tribal university while maintaining APU’s long-standing appeal.”
Knox has volunteered on boards for Alaska Run for Women, Bean’s Cafe, Alaska Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, and is a current board member of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation and Alaska Dance Theatre.
“We are thrilled to welcome Allison Knox, who is an APU alumnus, as our new Chief Advancement Officer,” says APU President Janelle Vanasse. “I am confident she will leverage existing organizational relationships and identify new potential sources of philanthropic support to expand our capacity to serve Alaska’s communities and students.”
Making History
The track of oil and gas development in Alaska shows the footprints of bold companies and hard-working individuals who shaped the industry in the past and continue to innovate today. The May 2024 issue of Alaska Business explores that history while looking forward to new product development, the energy transition for the fishing fleet, and the ethics of AI tools in business.