University’s regents appoint Pat Pitney as interim University of Alaska president

The University of Alaska Board of Regents has appointed Pat Pitney to serve as the university’s interim president. Pitney will take over from Acting President Michelle Rizk on Aug.1.

“One of the reasons the board felt so strongly about Pat as interim president was because of her demonstrated commitment to a spirit of partnership with university leadership and the principles of shared governance, said Board Chair Sheri Buretta.

“We are confident that she has the skills to address the range of issues facing UA. We also are confident that her many years of experience in leadership positions and state government will benefit and unify all of us,” Buretta said.

The board’s vote to appoint Pitney was unanimous.

Pitney’s strengths in the interim position include a deep knowledge of the university and its finances as well as good working relationships with state legislators gained through her work as state budget director, and more recently her selection to be chief finance director for the Legislature.

The university’s budget will be its most critical issue in the next year. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has imposed a series of major spending cuts on the UA system including a $20 million reduction planned for Fiscal Year 2022, the budget year beginning July 1, 2021 that must be approved by the Legislature next spring.

Pitney must present a preliminary plan for the FY 2022 budget will be before the Board of Regents in September.

Pitney currently serves as the state’s Director of the Division of Legislative Finance. She was the former Vice Chancellor of Administration, University of Alaska Fairbanks and worked at UA Statewide for 17 years.

In all, Pitney spent 23 years with the University of Alaska before leaving to serve as the State Budget Director in the administration of former Gov. Bill Walker.

“In agreeing to lead the university, Pat will bring a fresh perspective on engaging our faculty and staff on strategies to increase enrollment and student success,” Buretta said, “as well as helping us manage within our budget realities.”

Her selection comes after a process led by the Board of Regents and the nomination of 35 candidates.

There were five finalists for the interim president of the University of Alaska System. They included Pitney; Acting President Michelle Rizk, former UAF Interim Chancellor Dana Thomas, and current Chancellors Cathy Sandeen at University of Alaska Anchorage and Dan White at University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Each of the candidates was considered against the attributes approved by the board as well as Board of Regents policies that govern the president’s role. Regents conducted interviews in executive session with each finalist.

Pitney will serve as interim president for a minimum of one year but has agreed to continue on for up to 18 months or until the Board of Regents appoints the next university president, whichever comes first.