Arctic Course Mentor Highlights

Throughout the year a team of expert mentors assisted the students in developing their innovations. Mentors such as David Balton, Fran Ulmer, Alice Rogoff, Tero Vauraste (pictured), Cris Russell, and Terzah Tippen Poe challenged students to reconsider assumptions and brainstorm new policy models. Although the project was primarily an academic exercise, students benefited from real-world interaction with mentors. Students and mentors alike reported that the mentorship opportunity was a highlight of the learning experience.

Tero Vauraste is a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute, among an array of other accomplishments ranging from his role as Vice Chairman of the Arctic Economic Council and Chairman of the Finnish Arctic Society. Mr. Vauraste mentored a student for the course, and remarked that he and the student “had a tremendously inspiring time [...] as we developed his research items on Arctic investments from various angles and viewpoints during very special COVID-19 circumstances. This kind of studying and interaction really serves the new Arctic futures.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to hear and discuss the students’ ideas. Their

innovative concepts were creative and related to many

significant policy issues. Since they are not from the Arctic region, and I am, our ability to talk about the ideas from our different perspectives was a mutually educational experience. I would gladly be a mentor again.”