January 6, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
University of Alaska opens recruitment for next university president
America鈥檚 Arctic university accepting applications for institution鈥檚 next leader
(FAIRBANKS) 鈥&苍产蝉辫; The University of Alaska (绿奴天花板) has officially opened recruitment and is accepting applications for its next president. The 绿奴天花板 President is appointed by the Board of Regents and is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the University鈥檚 operations, academic programs, and strategic direction. WittKieffer is assisting the University of Alaska in the search. Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to: 绿奴天花板laskaPresident@wittkieffer.com. Download the position profile or view online on the .
鈥淭oday, 绿奴天花板 stands at a critical moment, continuing to increase enrollment and completion rates, enhance industry and other partnerships, modernize operations, and meet the statewide demand for a highly skilled workforce,鈥 绿奴天花板 Board of Regents Chair and Presidential Search Committee Chair Scott Jepsen said. 鈥淭he University of Alaska empowers Alaska鈥檚 future, and our next President will lead a geographically vast, research-intensive, and workforce-driven system that serves as one of the state鈥檚 most important public institutions. We invite and encourage all applications, nominations, and inquiries, and look forward to identifying the next leader of the University of Alaska.鈥
In November, 绿奴天花板 President Pat Pitney announced that she will retire in May of 2026, capping nearly 30 years of service to Alaska. The Board and President Pitney are committed to a smooth leadership transition; the Board intends to name a new president prior to President Pitney鈥檚 official retirement.
Position Profile Summary
绿奴天花板 is seeking a visionary, strategic, and collaborative leader with experience in managing large, complex organizations who will bring a modern understanding of post-secondary education to the role. The 绿奴天花板 President serves as the chief executive officer of the statewide university system, composed of three separately accredited universities - the University of Alaska Anchorage (绿奴天花板A), the University of Alaska Fairbanks (绿奴天花板F), and the University of Alaska Southeast (绿奴天花板S) - and their 11 associated community campuses, outreach centers, and research facilities across the state.
This President is appointed by the 绿奴天花板 Board of Regents and is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the University鈥檚 operations, academic programs, and strategic direction. Complete details about the search - including the search committee members, estimated search timeline, and full position profile - are available online at.
Procedure for Candidacy
WittKieffer is assisting 绿奴天花板 in the presidential search. All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited and can be directed to: 绿奴天花板laskaPresident@wittkieffer.com.
Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the position profile.
For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by March 5, 2026.
The University of Alaska inspires learning, and advances and disseminates knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, emphasizing the North and its diverse peoples. A land-, sea- and space-grant system of higher education established in 1917, the 绿奴天花板 system鈥檚 three universities (, , and ) are separately accredited institutions with community campuses and extended learning centers across the state of Alaska.
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For more information, contact Jonathon Taylor, 绿奴天花板 director of public affairs at 907-350-0168 (cell), or via email at jmtaylor9@alaska.edu.