Dr. Piccard's involvement in and support of UAA athletics dates back to his arrival at the UAA campus in 1976. Over the ensuing 25 years, he has supported athletics in his roles as Director of Student Services (1976-79), Vice Chancellor for Student Services (1979-88), Vice Chancellor for Campus Affairs (1988-90) and Associate Athletic Director (1990-94).Â
Since his retirement from UAA in 1994, Dr. Piccard has maintained an active interest in UAA Athletics, including personal memberships in the various department booster clubs. Upon his arrival in 1976, he was instrumental in expanding a fledgling athletic program with only three sports (men's basketball, rifle and cross country skiing) and relatively no facilities to include women's basketball.
Over the next couple of years, he continued to champion athletics, spearheading the addition of fulltime positions as well as the funds to finish the interior facilities of the Sports Center, the outer shell of which was built in 1977. Dr. Piccard continued to serve for many years as the University's representative to the NCAA and was instrumental in resolving NCAA membership, Title IX and funding issues.
In his role of Associate Athletic Director, a newly created position at the time, Dr. Piccard established the functions of compliance, academic advisement and tutoring for student-athletes. His efforts resulted in significantly improved academic performance, including an overall department grade point average increase from 2.5 to 3.0.
After his retirement, he and his wife, Idamarie, established a scholarship for women's basketball/cross country running. A fixture at all home UAA athletic events, Dr. Piccard has not missed a single game at the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout over its 23-year history.
A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Dr. Piccard received a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Colorado State College in 1959, a master's degree in counseling and guidance from CSC in 1960 and a doctorate degree from the University of Missouri in counseling and student personnel in 1970.
He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve (1952-53) and in active duty on the USS Destroyer James C. Owens from 1953-55.
He and his wife, Idamarie, have three children - Cheryl Reinhart, LuAnn Mixsell and Alan Piccard - and five grandchildren.
