April 11, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2025

Ů�źϼ� President Pitney Names Interim Ů�źϼ�A Chancellor and Search Committee for Permanent Chancellor

KPC Director Dr. Cheryl Siemers to serve as interim following Chancellor Parnell’s retirement; search committee to be co-led by former Board of Regents Chair, Ů�źϼ�A Faculty Senate President

(ANCHORAGE) - University of Alaska (Ů�źϼ�) President Pat Pitney announced today her selection of the Interim Chancellor for the University of Alaska Anchorage (Ů�źϼ�A), as well as the search committee members for the permanent chancellor search. Dr. Cheryl Siemers, who is currently the director of Ů�źϼ�A’s Kenai Peninsula College, will serve as Interim Chancellor beginning May 17. Dr. Siemers will work alongside Chancellor Sean Parnell as he prepares to retire in mid-May, and will lead Ů�źϼ�A until a permanent chancellor is selected.

“Three qualified applicants submitted letters of interest, and I’m grateful to all who put their names forward,” President Pitney said. “Cheryl's understanding of Ů�źϼ�A’s dual mission and experience at KPC make her an excellent fit for this role. She has championed and expanded community partnerships, community engagement, multi-disciplinary service-learning, and place-based learning while emphasizing the incorporation of local and Indigenous ways of knowing in curriculum development. Please join me in thanking her for her willingness to step in to lead Ů�źϼ�A as interim Chancellor.”

Dr. Siemers earned her Ph.D. in rhetoric and linguistics from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and holds an M.A. in English from Ů�źϼ�A. She joined Ů�źϼ�A KPC in 2002, and served as adjunct and full-time faculty before becoming assistant director and later director. Dr. Siemers has launched initiatives aimed at better preparing students for success, broadening course delivery modes, and expanding access to post-secondary education in Alaska. Dr. Siemers has also served on numerous local and national boards for education.

An interim director for KPC will be identified and announced in the near future.

The search committee for Ů�źϼ�A’s next permanent chancellor has also been formed, with members representing a broad array of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, community campuses, and key community partners. The search is co-chaired by Ů�źϼ�A Faculty Senate President Dr. Jackie Cason and Chugach Alaska Corporation Board Chair and former Ů�źϼ� Regent and Board Chair Sheri Buretta. The committee is charged with publicizing the search, vetting potential candidates, and making recommendations for finalists to President Pitney. In addition to the co-chairs, the committee includes:

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

“I thank the search committee members for their willingness to participate and help select Ů�źϼ�A’s next Chancellor,” President Pitney said. “In the coming days and weeks, the national recruitment process will begin, and an official announcement regarding the search and application details will be made available. I am committed to transparency throughout this journey and encourage all members of our community to stay engaged.”

The University of Alaska inspires learning, and advances and disseminates knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, emphasizing the North and its peoples. A land-, sea- and space-grant system of higher education established in 1917, the Ů�źϼ� system’s three universities (, , and ) are separately accredited institutions with 13 community campuses and extended learning centers across the state of Alaska.

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For more information, contact Jonathon Taylor, director of public affairs at 907-350-0168 (cell), or via email at jmtaylor9@alaska.edu.