СÓÅÊÓƵA Chancellor Search

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

СÓÅÊÓƵA Chancellor Position Profile

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СÓÅÊÓƵA Chancellor Search Committee

The search committee for СÓÅÊÓƵA’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 СÓÅÊÓƵA Faculty Senate President Dr. Jackie Cason, and Chugach Alaska Corporation Board Chair and former СÓÅÊÓƵ Regent and Board Chair Sheri Buretta. In addition to the co-chairs, the committee includes:

  • Eisa Chang — USСÓÅÊÓƵA President & СÓÅÊÓƵA Student
  • Brandon McKinney — СÓÅÊÓƵA Staff Council President & СÓÅÊÓƵA Staff Member
  • Dr. Marie Gardner — Mat-Su Community College Director
  • Dr. Carrie King — СÓÅÊÓƵA Faculty
  • Dr. Kevin Berry — СÓÅÊÓƵA Faculty
  • Dr. Alex Hills — СÓÅÊÓƵA 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.

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 СÓÅÊÓƵA 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: СÓÅÊÓƵA 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 (СÓÅÊÓƵ HR Talent Acquisition Specialist) and Helen Sale (Human Resources Coordinator ) will advise the committee on hiring policy and provide administrative support.