New leadership elected for the UA Board of Regents

The University of Alaska Board of Regents elected new leadership on Nov. 7.

Sheri Buretta, who presently serves as vice chair, will replace John Davies as chair. Karen Perdue will serve as vice chair. Dale Anderson and Lisa Parker will continue in their roles as secretary and treasurer respectively. 

Buretta was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2015 by Gov. Walker. She is the Chairman of the Chugach Alaska Corporation, Director of the Native American Contractors Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Alaska Federation of Natives. Born in Anchorage, Buretta’s family is from the village of Tatitlek located in Prince William Sound. She holds an associate degree in accounting from the University of Alaska and an associate degree in business from Gulf Coast Community College in Florida. Buretta lives in Eagle River with her husband Gary their children, Anastasia and Bo.

Perdue was appointed to the board in 2017 by Gov. Walker. She is a lifelong Alaskan with a background in health care, public policy and interests in the history and culture of Alaska. Perdue is a graduate of Stanford University. She is semi-retired, focusing her work on critical public health issues. She served as Commissioner of Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services for eight years - the longest serving health commissioner since statehood.  Most recently she represented the interests of Alaska’s hospitals and nursing homes as the CEO of the Alaska Hospital and Nursing Home Association. She has been honored by both the Girl and Boy Scouts as a Distinguished citizen.

Anderson, was appointed in 2012 by Gov. Parnell. A lifelong Juneau resident, he currently works in the financial services industry and owns Auke Lake Bed & Breakfast. He has served as a member of the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly, legislative aide for the House Finance Committee in the Alaska State Legislature and as commissioner of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. Anderson holds a certificate of judicial development in administrative law from the University of Nevada and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Oral Roberts University. He and his wife Honey Bee have four children and a grandson. 

Parker was appointed in 2015 by Governor Walker. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from The American University, Washington D.C.. She is a Harry S. Truman Scholar with a Certificate in Corporate Community Outreach from Boston College. Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, Parker won her first election at the age of 19 to the Anchorage Charter Commission and currently serves on the Soldotna City Council. Her involvement in resource development includes working for Cominco Alaska during the planning, development and initial operations of the Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska. Parker served as Planning Director for the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Community-Government Relations Manager for Agrium Kenai Nitrogen Operations, Apache Corporation External Affairs Manager and helped create Alaska’s first non-persistent oil spill cooperative, Alaska Chadux Corporation. Parker is married to Steve Horn.