СÓÅÊÓƵ

СÓÅÊÓƵ President Search

In November 2025, СÓÅÊÓƵ President Pat Pitney announced her intention to retire at the end of May 2026. The СÓÅÊÓƵ Board of Regents has now announced the process which will guide the search for СÓÅÊÓƵ's next permanent president. 

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University of Alaska President Search Process

The СÓÅÊÓƵ Board of Regents has retained WittKieffer, a nationally recognized executive search firm, to support the search for СÓÅÊÓƵ’s next permanent president. President Pitney and the Board are committed to facilitating a smooth transition, and the Regents intend to complete the search process and name a new permanent president prior to her retirement in May.

Should you have any candidate nominations or other thoughts to share, please email the WittKieffer team at: СÓÅÊÓƵlaskaPresident@wittkieffer.com.

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Search Firm Listening Sessions

• СÓÅÊÓƵ students, staff, and faculty, and community members from around the state are invited to provide input and feedback on the characteristics and qualities they would like to see in СÓÅÊÓƵ’s next permanent president.
• Listening sessions will be hosted during 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 СÓÅÊÓƵA, СÓÅÊÓƵF, and СÓÅÊÓƵS, as well as the System Office, will be able to attend their listening sessions in-person or virtually; a СÓÅÊÓƵ login will be required to register for and attend virtual sessions.
• Members of the general public may attend the In-person listening sessions scheduled for Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage.

• We have also created an anonymous feedback survey for those unable to attend in person or via Zoom, which is available . The form will stop accepting submissions at 2:00pm AKST on Monday, December 15.

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Presidential Search Committee:

• BOR Chair Scott Jepsen (Search Committee Chair)
• Regent Joey Crum
• Regent Karen Perdue
• Bonnie Brennan - СÓÅÊÓƵF Student and incoming Chair of СÓÅÊÓƵ Coalition of Student Leaders (student governance)
• Austin Cranford - СÓÅÊÓƵS Staff and Chair of СÓÅÊÓƵ Staff Alliance (staff governance)
• Dr. Jackie Cason - СÓÅÊÓƵA Faculty and Chair of СÓÅÊÓƵ Faculty Alliance (faculty governance)
• Dr. Charlene Stern - СÓÅÊÓƵF 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 СÓÅÊÓƵ 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

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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 СÓÅÊÓƵA, СÓÅÊÓƵF, СÓÅÊÓƵS, and System Office
• Early January 2026 - Recruitment opens
• March 2026 - WittKieffer conducts due diligence; search committee reviews applications, conducts interviews
• April 2026 - Finalists announced, finalist on-site visits
• April - May 2026 - President hired
• Summer 2026 - New president arrives