UAA Interim Chancellor

Dr. Bruce Schultz has served as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) since 2009 and his career in ascending leadership roles at UAA spans nearly three decades.  He began his professional career in student affairs in 1992 as the administrative coordinator of UAA’s Residence Life department. In 1995, he became the Associate Dean of Students and in 2005 the Dean of Students and Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development. In February 2009, Schultz was appointed interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs with the full appointment occurring in June 2010.

Schultz is responsible for advancing a student-centered agenda across the student life cycle in the functional areas of student affairs and campus services.  As Vice Chancellor, he led the development of a culture of assessment in student affairs, championed the adoption of the EAB Student Success Collaborative, created the Military and Veterans Student Services Office, supported a multi-year transformation of UAA’s enrollment services operations, and effectively restructured student affairs to improve effectiveness while addressing significant reductions in funding.  From 2009 to 2020, Schultz co-chaired UAA’s Diversity Action Council which supported the development of UAA’s first Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and the hiring of UAA’s first Chief Diversity Officer.

Schultz’s current initiatives include serving on the UA Institutional Research Council, UA Human Resources Council, and UA Student Services Council; managing UAA’s distribution of more than $5 million of CARES Act funding; leading the Anchorage campus transition to an online bookstore; transforming the transition to college experience for first-year students; creating synergy among student engagement and multicultural student programs; and, building more effective collaborations among the administrative services, academic affairs, university advancement and student affairs units to transform the total educational experience of students.

Dr. Schultz holds a bachelor's degree in International Business and German from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and a Master of Education in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Ball State University. He received his doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne and his doctoral dissertation was a descriptive study of freshmen adjustment to college at the University of Alaska.

Christi Bell, currently the Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of the Business Enterprise Institute (BEI), has served in leadership roles at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) for more than 15 years. BEI encompasses the University’s suite of business and economic development programs including the Applied Environmental Research Center which brings new revenues to the University and jobs to Alaska.

Bell serves as a member of the UAA Chancellor’s Cabinet, a chair of the UAA 2025 Strategic Plan development, and contributed leadership to the shared services, Facilities & Administration (F&A), Change & Leadership, and Prioritization task forces. Bell has extensive experience with the overall UA budgeting processes and shared governance and has strong working relationships with faculty, staff, and leadership across UAA and the UA’s campuses.

Bell is regularly called upon by state and federal stakeholders to consult and provide testimony on matters impacting Alaska and the University system. With this experience as a backdrop, Bell’s focus is on providing leadership, vision, and strategic direction towards ensuring students, faculty, and staff have opportunities to engage with and benefit from relationships with public and private sector entities.

Bell holds a CEcD (Certificate in Economic Development) from the International Economic Development Council as well as a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Resource Management, both from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

UAA interim Chancellor, Desired Attributes:

• A passionate connection with Alaska and all Alaskans.

• Entrenchment in UAA’s mission and vision, able to assume immediate and seamless leadership of UAA to continue its positive trajectory.

• Knowledge of and commitment to UAA academics, research, service, student support, and student-centric activities; recognition and support of all UAA’s campuses, inclusive of those in Anchorage and across Southcentral, AK.

• An ability to continue the momentum of ongoing initiatives to focus the organization and grow revenue.

• Experience with objective decision-making in large, complex organizations; an ability to make decisions for the overall good of the university, the system, and the state and not be beholden to parochial motives or agendas.

• Prepared to make swift and often difficult decisions that serve the mission and best interests of UAA and the UAA Community. Experience with steadfastness in decision-making, in the face of adversity, especially when it comes to health and safety is critically important.

• Credible advocate internally and externally on behalf of UAA.

• Trustworthy, recognizing the value of all Governance groups when making decisions, and communicating transparently to that end.

• Lead the university in its effort to foster diversity and a welcoming and supportive environment for all people.