January 6, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 6, 2026

University of Alaska opens recruitment for next university president

America’s Arctic university accepting applications for institution’s next leader

(FAIRBANKS) —  The University of Alaska (UA) has officially opened recruitment and is accepting applications for its next president. The UA President is appointed by the Board of Regents and is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the University’s operations, academic programs, and strategic direction. WittKieffer is assisting the University of Alaska in the search. Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to: UAlaskaPresident@wittkieffer.com. Download the position profile or view online on the WittKieffer recruitment site.

“Today, UA 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,” UA Board of Regents Chair and Presidential Search Committee Chair Scott Jepsen said. “The University of Alaska empowers Alaska’s future, and our next President will lead a geographically vast, research-intensive, and workforce-driven system that serves as one of the state’s 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.”

In November, UA 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’s official retirement.

Position Profile Summary

UA 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 UA President serves as the chief executive officer of the statewide university system, composed of three separately accredited universities - the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) - and their 11 associated community campuses, outreach centers, and research facilities across the state.

This President is appointed by the UA Board of Regents and is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the University’s 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 alaska.edu/pres/pres-search.

Procedure for Candidacy

WittKieffer is assisting UA in the presidential search. All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited and can be directed to: UAlaskaPresident@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 UA system’s three universities (UAA, UAF, and UAS) 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, UA director of public affairs at 907-350-0168 (cell), or via email at jmtaylor9@alaska.edu.