Next interim UAF chancellor will be internal candidate

The next interim chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks will be either a current or former UAF employee.

Download Audio

That’s according to UA President Jim Johnsen. He says it’s critical that the next hire is already familiar with the university system.

“Someone who knows us; someone who’s from here; someone people know,” Johnsen said. “We’ve got some very serious stuff to do and there’s not much time to learn.”

This comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that the university would abandon its search for a new, permanent appointment to the Fairbanks campus’ chancellor position.

Johnsen says the decision not to fill the job on a permanent basis is due to looming state budget cuts and potential changes to the university’s administrative structure.

The University of Alaska faces up to a $75 million budget gap next fiscal year.

Three finalists for the interim UAF chancellor position will be selected by June 6, with an appointment announced no later than June 30.

The appointment will last for at least one year.