2 longtime professors announce retirement

PALMER — Mat-Su College has announced the retirements of two of its longtime professors, Jack Cypher and Ping-Tung Chang, who have served the school 16 and 26 years respectively.

Cypher first joined Mat-Su College as a visiting instructor for refrigeration and heating technology in October 1997. He had already developed a record of decades of employment as a journeyman, supervisor and HVAC instructor long before he joined the faculty of the college. Along with several professional certifications, Cypher was himself a graduate of Mat-Su College in 1989. He has been an active member in both this community and the college. In 2003, the Mat-Su Borough Historical Commission honored Cypher for his work installing a heating system at the Knik Museum.

“Cypher is one of the quietest and most reliable people on campus,” college director Talis Colberg said. “He was a cornerstone figure in our work to offer vocational options for university students and he will be missed.”

Chang was the first full-time math professor hired by Mat-Su College, which was founded in 1958. He was hired by Glenn Massay nearly three decades ago. Chang has focused his life on the wellbeing of both the college and his students. He founded the college’s Math Club. For many years, he organized food drives for needy families in the borough. He was recognized many times for his unique “grow your own” teaching methods and devotion to students. The Alaska Legislature issued citations in honor of him several times. He was recognized in 2001 and 2009 as the Council for Advancement and Support of Education Alaska State Professor of the Year, and in 2010 was recognized as the CASE U.S. Professor of the Year, an unprecedented national award for an Alaska professor.

In addition, Chang established the Ping-Tung Chang Scholarship Fund through the University of Alaska Foundation to benefit future scholars.

“Dr. Chang has been an enduring fixture at Matanuska-Susitna College,” Colberg said. “For nearly three decades this school has been his family and his life, and he will be remembered for a long time. We wish him well.”