Rogers outlined a number of what he sees as the key highlights of the Board's activities during the term of his chairmanship.

"The UArctic Congress in September 2016 in Saint Petersburg will be the first gathering of all activities of the University of the Arctic, and will give the opportunity for the Board to gain a broader understanding of the full range of UArctic's functions and activities, including the Thematic Networks, mobility, and meeting together with the Rectors' Forum," he notes.

Rogers also sees the need for UArctic to achieve financial stability as a key goal for the coming years, particularly through increased fund-raising in North America, and ongoing efforts in Russia and the Nordic countries to support the organization's core functions.

A third priority is what Rogers refers to as the Arctic Council's "second baby," the Arctic Economic Council, which joins UArctic as the second  major network created through through their work. The UArctic Board had the opportunity to meet during its meetings with representatives of the Arctic Economic Council and the two bodies will work closely together. He stresses that, "Business needs a trained workforce that understands the Arctic, institutions need thriving local economies, and the region as a whole benefits from strong economic activity."

Finally, he sees the importance of the transition of the Arctic Council chairmanship from the US to Finland, and the need for both countries to continue to strengthen their support for UArctic activities likes student mobility and Thematic Networks. He also hopes to see the continuation of initiatives like the Model Arctic Council and the Arctic Fulbright program.

"UArctic has had a strong impact on the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and hopefully vice versa. As one of the founding members of the network, UAF has provided leadership support in a number of areas. As America's Arctic university, we see our engagement with UArctic as critical to maintain our position, our reputation, and our support for students and research in the Arctic," Rogers concludes.