Aron Edward Senkpiel (1955 - 2003)

Aron Spenkpiel was born in Prince George, British Columbia. He was the dean of the Arts and Science Division at Yukon College from 1983 to 1992. He oversaw the development of the Renewable Resources Management program, the Bachelor of Social Work program, and Women's Studies. Largely due to his efforts, the Yukon government awarded Yukon College a one million dollar endowment fund to support northern and Yukon research, and he initiated the Northern Studies program at the college. He also worked to introduce a Masters of Education in collaboration with Simon Fraser University and a Masters of Public Administration in collaboration with the University of Alaska Southeast.¹⁾

In 1988, Spenkiel was the founding editor of the scholarly journal The Northern Review. The editorial board included Senkpiel, Norm Easton, and Ken Coates. In 2002, Yukon college awarded Aron Senkpiel an Honorary Diploma of Northern Studies and the President’s Award for Improvement and Innovation. Aron Spenkpiel was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003.