Dr. Nettie La Belle-Hamer

Nettie La Belle-Hamer is UAF’s interim vice chancellor for research and the director of the Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF). A lifelong Alaskan, she received her bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1985, and her master’s and Ph.D. in space physics at UAF in 1988 and 1994, respectively. Under her direction since 2002, ASF has become a strong program in remote-sensing data access. La Belle-Hamer has developed new business opportunities and continues to keep ASF at the forefront of the satellite data industry by focusing on high-quality, on-time data delivery, exemplary customer service and visionary product development efforts. Developing and maintaining ASF’s relationships with U.S. and foreign government research agencies, as well as a wide array of domestic and international partners, requires her to use an unusual combination of scientific, management, and leadership skills. As the interim vice chancellor, La Belle-Hamer works to build capacity and depth in the research and development interests of UAF.