UAA Chancellor Search

In January of 2025, UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell announced his intent to retire at the end of the spring 2025 semester.  UA President Pat Pitney has named an interim chancellor to lead UAA upon Chancellor Parnell's retirement, and convened a search committee to guide the search for UAA's next permanent Chancellor. 

UAA Chancellor Position Profile

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UAA Chancellor Search Committee

The search committee for UAA’s next permanent chancellor has been formed, with members representing a broad array of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, community campuses, and key community partners. The committee is charged with publicizing the search, vetting potential candidates, and making recommendations for finalists to President Pitney.  The search committee will be instrumental in developing the position profile, communicating the opportunity nationally and ultimately informing the decision, currently intended to be announced during the Fall 2025 semester. 

The search committee is co-chaired by UAA Faculty Senate President Dr. Jackie Cason, and Chugach É«»¨Ìà Corporation Board Chair and former UA Regent and Board Chair Sheri Buretta. In addition to the co-chairs, the committee includes:

  • Eisa Chang — USUAA President & UAA Student
  • Brandon McKinney — UAA Staff Council President & UAA Staff Member
  • Dr. Marie Gardner — Mat-Su Community College Director
  • Dr. Carrie King — UAA Faculty
  • Dr. Kevin Berry — UAA Faculty
  • Dr. Alex Hills — UAA Distinguished Affiliate Professor of Electrical Engineering
  • Ella Goss — CEO of Providence É«»¨Ìà Medical Center
  • Scott Habberstad — É«»¨Ìà Airlines Managing Director-É«»¨Ìà Market
  • Chris King — Vice President, Operations of AVIS, É«»¨Ìà Rent A Car, Inc.

Key Search Committee Responsibilities: 

  1. Communicate broadly throughout the search
  2. Develop, recommend, and publish a search committee process and timeline
  3. Identify and recommend desirable attributes for a UAA Chancellor
  4. Publish a position prospectus
  5. Publish an external position advertisement
  6. Solicit a diverse candidate pool
  7. Inform the candidates about the university and the position
  8. Evaluate the candidates against the desired attributes
  9. Narrow the candidate pool to three to five 
  10. Provide information about the candidate pool 
  11. Socialize the finalists with the university community through town hall meetings and other events and collect feedback

Support:

  • Communications Support: UAA Executive Director for University Advancement Tanya Pont, System Office Director of Public Affairs Jonathon Taylor and other communication team members including Katie Bender, Keenan Britt, and Monique Musick will help the committee communicate broadly to include, websites, written updates, town halls, and other engagements. 
  • Chief Human Resources Officer Memry Dahl will assist the committee in an advisory capacity, along with her executive assistant, Stefanie Gorder.  Chris Triplett (UA HR Talent Acquisition Specialist) and Helen Sale (Human Resources Coordinator ) will advise the committee on hiring policy and provide administrative support.