Announcements of UA system leadership changes, employee recognition and personnel news.

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  • UAA staff announcements

    July 06, 2020

    I am pleased to announce that Shawnalee Whitney will be stepping into the role of associate vice provost, Wednesday, July 1. Whitney has served as director of UAA's Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE) since 2014. She has been recognized with the Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence (2014), a Legislative Citation for contributions to Alaska higher education (2017) and a certificate of recognition from the Diversity Action Council (2019). Throughout her tenure at UAA, she has focused on supporting faculty to become more effective and confident professionals in higher education.

  • Jane Pallister announces retirement from UAA athletic department

    July 06, 2020

    University of Alaska Anchorage Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Affairs Jane Pallister has announced her retirement at the end of June. She has spent over 30 years serving the university, including the last 20 with the athletic department.

  • Ryan Sand Joins UAS as emergency management planner

    July 06, 2020

    The University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Sand as its new Emergency Management Planner. Sand began working for the university part-time in January, working remotely until he could make the move to Juneau and assume the position full-time on April 27. Sand has been instrumental in leading UAS through the challenges of COVID-19 since he began work in January.

  • Dr. Paul Kraft named new UAS Sitka Campus Director

    July 06, 2020

    The University of Alaska Southeast is pleased to announce that Dr. Paul Kraft has been selected as the new campus director for the UAS Sitka Campus. He replaces Dr. Math Trafton, who has served as the interim director since the departure of Leslie Gordon. Kraft begins his role on June 29, 2020.

  • Ellen Lopez announced as new College of Liberal Arts dean at UAF

    June 11, 2020

    Ellen Lopez has been named the dean of the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Liberal Arts. She will start in her new role on July 5.

  • Dr. Mary Jo Finney appointed dean of UAA Graduate School

    June 05, 2020

    Dr. Mary Jo Finney will serve as the new dean of the UAA Graduate School beginning Aug. 1. Finney comes to UAA from the University of Michigan-Flint, where she is currently a tenured professor of education, chair of the Education Department and director of the Secondary M.A.C. program.

  • Mary Gower named Chief Equity and Compliance Officer

    June 05, 2020

    Mary Gower was retitled the University of Alaska Chief Equity and Compliance Officer (CECO) on May 20, 2020. Reporting to the President and as a member of the President's Executive Leadership Team, the CECO provides leadership and oversight to the Offices of Equity and Compliance. The position helps ensure that the University of Alaska is not only compliant in meeting university obligations and responsibilities, but is also proactive, responsive, and collaborative in providing a learning and working environment free of discrimination for faculty, staff and students. Mary Gower was initially appointed Chief Title IX Officer in February 2017.

  • Climate specialist Rick Thoman receives NOAA career award

    June 02, 2020

    Richard "Rick" Thoman, an Alaska climate specialist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the International Arctic Research Center is a 2020 recipient of a NOAA Distinguished Career Award for Professional Achievement. The award recognizes individual NOAA employees -- present and recently retired, such as Thoman -- who have made long-term contributions and commitments to accomplishing NOAA goals.

  • Cameron Wohlford named director of Design and Construction

    May 20, 2020

    Cameron Wohlford has been selected as the director of the Division of Design and Construction. Wohlford has been serving as interim director for the last year and was selected for the position through a regular recruitment process.

  • UAA announces new leadership hires for diversity, academics, research

    May 15, 2020

    As you know, there have been a number of recruitments underway for key UAA leadership positions. I am pleased to announce the university's recent hire of our chief diversity officer, provost and vice provost for research. Some faces are new, while some are familiar to us. I will also share important updates regarding existing personnel.