April 11, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2025

UA President Pitney Names Interim UAA 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, UAA Faculty Senate President

(ANCHORAGE) - University of Ӱԭ (UA) President Pat Pitney announced today her selection of the Interim Chancellor for the University of Ӱԭ Anchorage (UAA), as well as the search committee members for the permanent chancellor search. Dr. Cheryl Siemers, who is currently the director of UAA’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 UAA 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 UAA’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 UAA 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 UAA. She joined UAA 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 Ӱԭ. 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 UAA’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 UAA Faculty Senate President Dr. Jackie Cason and Chugach Ӱԭ Corporation Board Chair and former UA 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 — 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 Ӱԭ Medical Center
  • Scott Habberstad — Ӱԭ Airlines Managing Director-Ӱԭ Market
  • Chris King — Vice President, Operations of AVIS, Ӱԭ Rent A Car, Inc.

“I thank the search committee members for their willingness to participate and help select UAA’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 Ӱԭ 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 UA system’s three universities (, , and ) are separately accredited institutions with 13 community campuses and extended learning centers across the state of Ӱԭ.

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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.