UAA Interim Chancellor and Chancellor Search Committee Announcement
by Green & Gold News |
Dear UAA Community, I’m pleased to share with you my selection of UAA’s Interim Chancellor, as well as the search committee members and timeline for the permanent chancellor search.
Interim Chancellor Appointment
Three qualified applicants submitted letters of interest, and I’m grateful to all who put their names forward. Ultimately, I have selected Cheryl Siemers to serve as Interim Chancellor. Cheryl currently serves as the director of UAA’s Kenai Peninsula College (KPC). She has excellent leadership experience, understands and clearly articulates UAA's dual-mission, and has led enrollment growth at KPC. Cheryl will work alongside Chancellor Parnell during his transition and will begin as Interim Chancellor on May 17.
Cheryl joined UAA KPC in 2002, and served as adjunct and full-time faculty before becoming assistant director and later director. She also previously served as the director of advancement and academic dean at neighboring institution Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Christian College. She’s a proud UAA alumna, receiving her M.A. in English from us in addition to earning her Ph.D. in rhetoric and linguistics from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her understanding of UAA’s dual mission and experience at KPC make her an excellent fit for the 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 Cheryl for her willingness to step in to lead UAA as interim chancellor. An interim director for KPC will be identified and announced in the near future.
Permanent Chancellor Search Details
The Chancellor Search Committee has been officially formed. The committee members, representing a broad array of perspectives and expertise, are entrusted with guiding the process to identify UAA’s next Chancellor.
The Search Committee includes student, faculty, staff, campus representation, as well as key community partners. It is co-chaired by UAA Faculty Senate President Dr. Jackie Cason and Chugach Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Corporation Board Chair and former UA Regent and Board Chair Sheri Buretta. Other members are:
- Eisa Chang — USUAA President & UAA Student
- Brandon McKinney — UAA Staff Council Co-President & UAA Staff Member
- Dr. Marie Garner — Mat-Su Community College Director
- Dr. Carrie King —UAA Faculty
- Dr. Kevin Berry —UAA Faculty
- Dr. Alex Hills — Distinguished Service Professor, former UAA Faculty
- Ella Goss — CEO of Providence Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Medical Center
- Scott Habberstad — Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Airlines Managing Director-Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Market
- Chris King — Vice President, Operations of AVIS, Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Rent A Car, Inc.
A national recruitment process will commence shortly, and an official announcement regarding the search and application details will be forthcoming. We are committed to transparency throughout this journey and encourage all members of our community to stay engaged.
Thanks for all you do for our university, our students, and our state.
Sincerely,
Pat Pitney
UA President