Good options bode well for UAF’s future

This editorial originally appeared in the Thursday edition of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

The spring announcement by University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Brian Rogers that he would retire this summer came as a shock to the Interior community. Chancellor Rogers has had a strong tenure leading the institution’s flagship campus and was considered a favorite among potential replacements for UA President Patrick Gamble, who also will leave this year. But with the selection of a slate of interim chancellor candidates with experience at UAF, the Fairbanks campus will be in good hands during the coming year — and potentially many years after.

The three candidates for Chancellor Rogers’ interim replacement all have significant depth of experience with the university, albeit in an array of different roles. The first, current University of Alaska Board of Regents member Mike Powers, has served on the university’s statewide governing body since 2011. Because of that position, Mr. Powers is familiar both with the overall direction and budget of the university.

He has also served for many years as the CEO of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, from which he will retire at the end of this month. In that role, he has gotten to know the residents of Fairbanks and its business community well.

The second candidate, Robert McCoy, is no stranger to executive experience himself, as he heads one of UAF’s major divisions, the Geophysical Institute. Mr. McCoy has shepherded the growth and development of West Ridge successes, and knows well how to navigate the world of science and research that makes up a big part of UAF’s appeal to natural science professors and students.

Significantly, research is also an area that brings a substantial return on investment for the university, with each dollar in state funding matched by an average of six dollars in grant money. It’s a multiplier that will likely be attractive for the university as it deals with the reality of smaller state budgets.

The final candidate, Mike Sfraga, has worked most closely with Chancellor Rogers of the three under consideration. He currently serves as UAF’s vice chancellor for university and student advancement, working closely with the chancellor to fulfill the campus’ academic mission. He has led the university’s effort to move students through degree programs and up its matriculation rate, which has historically been poor. Of those being considered for the interim position, Mr. Sfraga’s learning curve for his responsibilities as chancellor might be shallowest — at least when it comes to managing on-campus affairs.

All three candidates would be qualified to lead the UAF campus in the interim while the university’s next president selects a full-fledged chancellor. All three would be strong candidates for that position as well. The Interior is lucky to have several local, experienced options to be UAF’s next leader.