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 has now announced the process which will guide the search for UA's next permanent president. 

University of Alaska President Search Process

The University of Alaska seeks a visionary, strategic, and collaborative leader with experience managing large, complex organizations who will bring a modern understanding of higher education to serve as its next President. 

UA Presidential Search Timeline

Leadership search update

The University of Alaska (UA) presidential search is in full swing. The search committee has begun its review of candidate applications and is carefully evaluating a strong and diverse pool of applicants.

As the process moves forward, the committee will begin conducting initial interviews via Zoom in early April. These interviews are an important step in identifying candidates who best align with the UA’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.

Next steps will include bringing the candidates 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. 

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

Communications

Position Profile and Recruitment Process Archive

UA Presidential Profile cover page

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

The University of Alaska (UA), founded in 1917, is America’s Arctic University and the northernmost public higher-education system in the United States. The UA inspires learning, advances and disseminates knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, emphasizing the North and its peoples. As a land-, sea-, and space-grant system with three separately accredited universities and 11 community campuses across the state, UA plays an essential role in educating Alaska’s workforce, expanding the boundaries of Arctic research, and strengthening communities from Southeast Alaska to the North Slope.

Procedure for Candidacy

WittKieffer is assisting UA in this search. All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: UAlaskaPresident@wittkieffer.com. 

Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the position profile.

For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by March 5, 2026. 

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.

Monday, December 8, 2025 - University of Alaska Southeast (UAS)

UAS Faculty Listening Session (UA Login required to join via Zoom)
9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
Glacier View Room, Egan Library Classroom Wing
11066 Auke Lake Way, Juneau, AK 99801

UAS Staff Listening Session (UA Login required to join via Zoom)
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Glacier View Room, Egan Library Classroom Wing
11066 Auke Lake Way, Juneau, AK 99801

UAS Student Listening Session (UA Login required to join via Zoom)
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
Glacier View Room, Egan Library Classroom Wing
11066 Auke Lake Way, Juneau, AK 99801

Juneau Community Listening Session
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Glacier View Room, Egan Library Classroom Wing
11066 Auke Lake Way, Juneau, AK 99801 (Campus Map)

Tuesday, December 9,  2025 - University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

Fairbanks Community Listening Session
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Bunnell Building, Schaible Auditorium
1790 Tanana Loop Fairbanks, AK 99709
Wednesday, December 10,  2025 - University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

UAF Faculty Listening Session (UA Login required to join via Zoom)
9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
Schaible Auditorium, Fairbanks, AK 99709

UAF Student Listening Session (UA Login required to join via Zoom)
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Schaible Auditorium, Fairbanks, AK 99709

UAF and System Office Staff Listening Session (UA Login required to join via Zoom)
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Butrovich Building Room 109 

Thursday, December 11, 2025 - University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA)

UAA Staff Listening Session 
9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
Engineering and Industry Building Solarium (2nd Floor)
2900 Spirit Dr, Anchorage, AK 99508

UAA Student Listening Session
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Engineering and Industry Building Solarium (2nd Floor)
2900 Spirit Dr, Anchorage, AK 99508

UAA Faculty Listening Session 
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Engineering and Industry Building Solarium (2nd Floor)
2900 Spirit Dr, Anchorage, AK 99508

Anchorage Community Listening Session
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Engineering and Industry Building (EIB) Solarium (2nd Floor)
2900 Spirit Dr, Anchorage, AK 99508

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

Anticipated 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