UA President Search

In November 2025, UA President Pat Pitney announced her intention to retire at the end of May 2026. The UA Board of Regents initiated a process to select a visionary, strategic, and collaborative leader with experience managing large, complex organizations to bring a modern understanding of higher education to serve as UA's next permanent president. 

May 1, 2026

University of Alaska Board of Regents selects Matthew Cooper as system’s 18th president

The University of Alaska Board of Regents voted to appoint long-time Alaskan and former UA General Counsel Matthew Cooper as the next President of the University of Alaska. President-Designee Cooper brings 13 years of UA experience to the role and will succeed President Pat Pitney following her retirement in May. President-Designee Cooper currently serves as Of Counsel at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, a national law firm with offices in Anchorage; his first day as UA president will be August 3, 2026. READ FULL PRESS RELEASE

Matthew “Matt” Cooper

Matthew “Matt” Cooper

University of Alaska President-Designee

Office of the President

President-Designee Cooper spent 13 years in the UA Office of the General Counsel, including four as General Counsel from 2020 to 2024. He joined the office in 2011 and rose through increasing levels of responsibility, advising the Board of Regents, system administration, and the three universities on higher education law, board governance, and complex institutional risk. As General Counsel, he oversaw the finalization and implementation of the UA Land Grant Initiative, a decades-long university priority that will allow UA to receive its full federal land-grant allotment. He also actively participated in and assisted with many of UA's key priorities, including intellectual property commercialization and operational efficiency. His professional approach centers on solving conflict through consensus and collaboration, an orientation that has shaped his work as a trusted advisor to University leadership.

Learn more about Matthew “Matt” Cooper

DOWNLOAD COOPER RESUME

University of Alaska President Search Process

The committee conducted initial interviews via Zoom in early April. Candidates then came to the campus, meeting with the search committee, constituent groups, and the Board of Regents with a goal of identifying UA’s next president in early to mid-May. 

Communications

Constituent Groups for Finalist Visits

  • Christine Resler
  • Dale Anderson   
  • Dennis Michel   
  • Fernando Escobar
  • Joey Crum 
  • Karen Perdue    
  • Paula Harrison  
  • Ralph Seekins   
  • Scott Jepsen    
  • Seth Church
  • Steve Colligan
  • Benjamin Shier, Chief Information Technology Officer
  • Brian Smentkowski, VP & Chief Academic Officer
  • Izzy Martinez, Executive Assistant
  • John Latini, Federal Relations Director
  • Jonathan Taylor, Director of Public Affairs
  • Kerynn Fisher, Board Executive Officer
  • Luke Fulp, VP & Chief Finance Officer
  • Michelle Rizk, VP University Relations & Chief Strategy, Planning, and Budget Officer
  • Nickole Conley, Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Tlisa Northcutt, UA Foundation President & CDO
  • Wayne Mowery, General Counsel
  • Aaron Dotson, VCR
  • Brian Partridge, Kachemak Bay Campus Director
  • Cheryl Siemers, Chancellor
  • Denise Runge, Provost
  • Ray Weber, CTC Dean
  • Ryan Buchholdt, VCAS
  • Tanya Pont, VCUA
  • Tom Green, Interim VCSA
  • April Alvarez, Staff Council President
  • Arel Gutierrez, USUAA (Student) President
  • Emily Hufford, USUAA (Student) Vice President
  • Jared Stapor, Staff Council Vice President
  • Maria Williams, Faculty Rep
  • Matthew Cuellar, Faculty Rep
  • Megan Ossiander, Faculty Rep
  • Bob McCoy, Research Director
  • Bryan Uher, Interim VCRCNE
  • Cam Carlson, Dean
  • Charlene Stern, Interim Provost
  • Julie Queen, VCAS
  • Laura Conner, VCR
  • Mike Sfraga, Interim Chancellor
  • Owen Guthrie, VCSA
  • Debu Misra, Faculty Rep
  • Derek Bastille, Staff Council Rep
  • Jackson Nelson, ASUAF President
  • Leah Berman, Faculty Rep
  • Lilly Varney, ASUAF Vice President
  • Nicole Goff, System Office Staff Council President
  • Rebecca Catlin, System Office Staff Council
  • Samara Taber, Staff Council Rep
  • Uma Bhatt, Faculty Rep
  • Aparna Palmer, Chancellor
  • Jacqueline Tagaban, AVC for Alaska Native Programs & PITAAS Director
  • Jeremy Rupp, Sitka Campus Director
  • Jon Lasinski, VCAS
  • Lori Klein, VCEM&SA
  • Scott Billingsley, Provost
  • William Urquhart, UAS Ketchikan Campus Director
  • Austin Cranford, Staff Council President
  • Brian Blitz, Faculty Rep
  • David Cox, Faculty Rep
  • Jayden Lambe, Student Rep
  • JoMarie Alba, Faculty Rep
  • Joshua Duong, Student Rep
  • Michele Nakamura, Staff Council Rep

Position Profile and Recruitment Process Archive

UA Presidential Profile cover page

Download the position profile or view online on the WittKieffer recruitment site.

Search Firm Listening Sessions

  • UA students, staff, and faculty, and community members from around the state were invited to provide input and feedback on the characteristics and qualities they would like to see in UA’s next permanent president during listening sessions the week of December 8 in Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage by WittKieffer, the executive search firm contracted by the Board of Regents to assist in the presidential search.
  • Students, staff, and faculty at UAA, UAF, and UAS, as well as the System Office, were able to attend their listening sessions in-person or virtually. Members of the general public could attend the In-person listening sessions.

  • An anonymous feedback survey was also available through December 19 for those unable to attend in person or via Zoom.

Presidential Search Committee:

  • BOR Chair Scott Jepsen (Search Committee Chair)
  • Regent Joey Crum
  • Regent Karen Perdue
  • Bonnie Brennan - UAF Student and incoming Chair of UA Coalition of Student Leaders (student governance)
  • Austin Cranford - UAS Staff and Chair of UA Staff Alliance (staff governance)
  • Dr. Jackie Cason - UAA Faculty and Chair of UA Faculty Alliance (faculty governance)
  • Dr. Charlene Stern - UAF Interim Provost
  • Russell Dick - President & Chief Executive Officer of Huna Totem Corporation
  • Erec Isaacson - President, ConocoPhillips Alaska
  • Dave Karp - Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Saltchuk  
  • Katie Koester - City Manager for the City and Borough of Juneau
  • Meg Nordale - President of GHEMM Company and UA Foundation Board Chair
  • Joe Usibelli, Jr.  - President, Usibelli Coal Mine
  • Conrad Woodhead - CTE & Residential Director of the Kusilvak Career Academy for the Lower Yukon School District

Search Timeline

The Board, in consultation with WittKieffer, anticipates the search to follow the schedule below:

  • Week of December 8 - Listening Sessions with WittKieffer at UAA, UAF, UAS, and System Office
  • Early January 2026 - Recruitment opens
  • March 2026 - WittKieffer conducts due diligence; search committee reviews applications, conducts interviews
  • April 2026 - Finalists selected, finalist on-site visits
  • April - May 2026 - President hired
  • Summer 2026 - New president arrives