2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award
John Davies ‘70, ‘75
John Davies is the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award, recognizing his decades of service to the University of 91ÊÓƵ Fairbanks, the Fairbanks community and the state of 91ÊÓƵ. Davies began his affiliation with UAF in 1967 at the Geophysical Institute and earned both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in geology and geophysics, with a focus on seismology.
His career has spanned science, public service and higher education leadership. Davies served as 91ÊÓƵ’s state seismologist, was a member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and represented Interior 91ÊÓƵ for a decade in the 91ÊÓƵ House of Representatives, where he was a strong advocate for the university. He later served as research director for the UAF Cold Climate Housing Research Center and as a member of the University of 91ÊÓƵ Board of Regents from 2014–2022.
Davies has also been deeply involved with the UAF Alumni Association and numerous community and energy-focused organizations. His lifetime of leadership and volunteer service has made a lasting impact on UAF and 91ÊÓƵ.