Executive Vice President Wendy Redman has announced plans to retire by the end of this summer. A specific departure date has not yet been set.

Redman has been a steady force at the University of Alaska for 41 years. She’s held numerous positions at both UAF and the System Office, including working as an administrative assistant in the biology department and serving as chancellor for community colleges in the late 1970s. She’s traveled back and forth to the state capital on behalf of the university since that time, and was named vice president for university relations in 1988. In 2009, she was named executive vice president of the UA System.

Members of the Board of Regents, who learned of Redman’s upcoming retirement plans at the June 2-3 meeting in Fairbanks, each took to the opportunity to thank her for her years of dedication and service. Board members don’t meet again until late September.� Chancellors Rogers, Case and Pugh also praised Redman, who wasn't expecting the impromptu accolades. She received a standing ovation.

UA President Pat Gamble is considering options for her replacement, which will be announced at the appropriate time.

The University of Alaska Foundation Board of Trustees unanimously voted at its June 10 meeting in Juneau to transfer $41,000 of unrestricted funds to the Molly Redman Ahren Scholarship. The amount of the donation represents Wendy's 41 years of devotion to the System, Foundation, and UA campuses across the state. The scholarship honors the memory of Wendy’s daughter Molly.

A good-bye party for Wendy is in the planning stage--watch for more details in an upcoming issue of the Statewide Voice!

Mary Rutherford, president of the University of Alaska Foundation and UA’s chief development officer for the last nine years, announced her resignation effective July 31 to accept a development position at Boise State University.

A potluck going away party for Rutherford, dubbed “The Land of Spuds,” will be held at 1 p.m. July 29 in Room 109 of the Butrovich Building. As the name suggests, the potluck has a potato theme, in honor of Rutherford’s destination.� To sign up for the potluck, contact Dory Straight in the Foundation office at 8033. For more information contact either Dory or Jenn Hoppough at 7096.

Printed below is Rutherford’s announcement, sent to all Statewide staff May 27:

Dear UA Friends and Colleagues,

I want to share with you that I’ve recently decided to resign from the position of president of the University of Alaska Foundation and chief development officer for the University of Alaska, effective July 31, 2011.� I have decided to return to Idaho, where my family homesteaded, where I was born, and where my personal roots are deep.

It’s been my honor to serve the University and the Foundation for the past nine years. I’ve enjoyed working with so many of you here at Statewide, as well as colleagues at each of our campuses.

I’m proud of the progress we’ve made toward building an awareness of philanthropy across the University of Alaska.� Accomplishments I’m especially proud of include transforming the Foundation beyond serving as a bank while adopting best practices for the Foundation and university development. Centralizing advancement services into the Foundation was a huge leap, as was initiating our now very successful annual staff giving campaign!

It’s been my honor and privilege to serve the University of Alaska; I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Mary K. Rutherford

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