The University of Alaska Board of Regents on Friday named five finalists for the job of interim president at the state’s public university system. They include two current university chancellors and the director of the state’s Division of Legislative Finance.
The announcement comes about three weeks after Jim Johnsen suddenly resigned from his role as UA president amid blowback from his Wisconsin job search.
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The regents say they expect to announce the interim president on Tuesday after interviews in executive session — meetings closed to the public.
Here are the five candidates they’re choosing from:
- Pat Pitney, director of the Division of Legislative Finance and former vice chancellor of administration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Michelle Rizk, the acting UA president who is also UA’s vice president of university relations and chief budget and strategy officer
- Cathy Sandeen, chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage
- Dana Thomas, former UAF interim chancellor and UA vice president of academic affairs and research
- Daniel White, UAF chancellor
The interim president will lead the UA system while regents search for someone to permanently fill the position.
Reach reporter Tegan Hanlon at thanlon@alaskapublic.org or 907-550-8447.
Tegan Hanlon is the digital managing editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at thanlon@alaskapublic.org or 907-550-8447. Read more about Tegan here.
