After six years of leadership, UA President Pat Pitney retires

On her departure, Pitney highlights university's academic programs, workforce development

University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor Aparna Palmer gives a speech about former University of Alaska president Pat Pitney at the Áakʼw Tá Hít building on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

By Jasz Garrett

Juneau Independent

Pat Pitney's last day as president of the University of Alaska was May 21. Her retirement was celebrated by about 30 colleagues at the Áakʼw Tá Hít building on the Juneau campus Wednesday evening.

"One of the reasons that I think that she has elevated the University of Alaska system during her tenure as president is because she had that ability to just kind of rise above, think about the entire system, and think about how to strengthen it," University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor Aparna Palmer told attendees. "So that 100 years from now, 200 years from now, we can continue to be this great university in really one of the best places on Earth — Alaska."

Guests looked out the science building's window during the reception, trying to spot whales.

In an interview, Pitney shared her hopes for the university's future.

"Solid student enrollment, strengthening the academic offerings, strong connection with our employers across the state, strong research portfolio, and that our high school students look at us first," she said.

Pitney was granted emeritus status during a Board of Regents meeting on May 21. The board may give the title “President Emeritus” at its discretion to recognize significant, meritorious contributions to the university, according to a UA press release. Only three other presidents have been granted the title: Charles Bunnell, William Wood and Mark Hamilton.

Pitney reflected on the highlights of her presidency, which she said include the reversal of a steady enrollment decline, stabilizing fiscal outlooks and a revived connection to Alaska's workforce. 

She said UA experienced a rough time before she became president in 2020 due to turmoil within state politics. She said when she started, it was important to focus on the strengths of academic programs to address those challenges. 

Gov. Mike Dunleavy slashed the university system budget in 2019 by $130 million, eventually shifting to spread the cuts over three years. The three-year approach was with Dunleavy’s expectation that “the university will do certain things and my office will do certain things in support of the university's efforts to make it a better university.”

“I looked at the situation, and what it would take to put it back on a stable footing, and I felt like I could help,” Pitney said. 

Last week, the regents approved the fiscal year 2027 operating and capital budgets. UA’s operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 includes $366.1 million in unrestricted general funds, an increase of roughly 4% from the previous year.

UA’s capital appropriation from the Alaska Legislature for the upcoming fiscal year includes $45.8 million in total funding, with roughly $39 million from state funds. 

The vast majority of the funds will support critical deferred maintenance needs across the system. Both budgets have passed the Legislature and await the governor's approval or veto, including his rejection of individual line items.

Pitney said she feels like her biggest accomplishment was “repairing the reputation and trust of the institution and the value to Alaska.”

"I worked on stabilizing the finances of the institution, the structure, focused on the reputation of the institution for the high-quality programs we have, and then just got people to work together within the university," she said.

Pitney said this was possible by bringing people together and students into the available programs.

“Before I came in people were feeling threatened, and I got people to focus on what they can do and focus on serving their communities and their students,” she said. “You have to have shared purpose and shared expectations.”

Pitney recognized UAS for being a hands-on, experiential university, underscoring its offerings in teacher education, marine biology and mining industry support. 

She added that each of the three universities has a unique culture. Pitney noted the University of Alaska Fairbanks offers a traditional research campus, while Anchorage provides a larger school with nursing programs. 

“Those all existed when I walked in the door, just had to convince people that these programs are all here and they're high-quality,” she said.

The regents also approved four new programs last week, including a Master of Arts in Teaching in Indigenous Languages at UAS.

Pitney said the university supports the state's workforce outside of traditional courses by offering welding and engineering programs, as well as UAF’s fire science program. She spotlighted other workforce connections.

“We have really strong industry partnerships, a construction industry. We have a construction management program, process technology with some of the oil and gas companies,” she said. “Did amazing research and startup in the mariculture area.”

Former University of Alaska president Pat Pitney poses for a photo on the balcony of the Áakʼw Tá Hít building on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

She called the Áakʼw Tá Hít building, where she celebrated on Wednesday, another noteworthy accomplishment. Completed in 2024, its primary focus is on environmental science research.

Pitney said she thinks she leaves behind a solid foundation, and believes Alaska Unlocked starting this fall at UAS will "make a difference for the whole Southeast economy." Alaska Unlocked offers in-state tuition for all undergraduate students at the three Southeast campuses.

Pitney said UA now has the highest amount of research funding in the history of the institution, but “there’s always uncertainty.” Last fall, UAS researchers shared impacts on projects due to funding doubts. UAF officials estimated $8.8 million in cancelled funding for a variety of programs and student services due to Trump administration cuts.

Despite this, Pitney expressed optimism about future grants and opportunities.

"We have the potential of a 10-year National Science Foundation grant that would be for critical mineral exploration and development manufacturing, it’s a $160 million opportunity,” she said. “That's pretty exciting. A lot of work that we're doing in national security in the Arctic.”

NSF grantees are instructed to cease all grant and award activities that do not comply with federal executive orders, according to UA’s federal executive actions page. 

Last spring, Pitney acknowledged during a virtual town hall that federal threats to cut funding have created an environment of anxiety at UA.

That meeting was held after the BOR removed diversity, equity and inclusion from online and printed materials in response to ultimatums issued by the Trump administration, a decision which faced backlash. The university upheld the policy this year even after a federal court ruling struck it down. 

On Wednesday, Pitney stuck to optimism when pressed about ongoing threats to research funding, responding with, “I don’t focus on the negative.”

“You can worry about a lot, but you can only do a little,” she said. “Focus on what you can do.”

For advice to her successor, Pitney said: “Be a champion for the programs that are doing well and hold people accountable to serving our state.”

She plans to enjoy her retirement in Anchorage with her grandchildren. 

Michelle Rizk, UA vice president of University Relations, will serve as interim president until Matt Cooper's first day on Aug. 3. Cooper was announced as the new UA president on May 1.

• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.