Office of the Chancellor
UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell
Sean Parnell serves as chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage. Since his appointment in 2021, Chancellor Parnell has pursued key initiatives focusing on college affordability, student success, and positioning UAA as a trusted community partner. The Chancellor works to advance UAA’s role as Alaska’s largest workforce provider, and the flagship university for health and Arctic public policy.
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Prior to becoming Chancellor, Parnell was an attorney practicing law in Alaska for twenty-five years. Parnell served as the 10th Governor of the State of Alaska from 2009-2014. His leadership expanded funding for education, helped combat domestic violence and sexual assault, and lifted Alaska to record economic prosperity and employment. The Chancellor previously served in the Alaska State Legislature, including two terms in the House and later in the Alaska State Senate where he was Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2006 and became Governor of Alaska in 2009.
Chancellor Parnell is a graduate of East Anchorage High School. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University and a Juris Doctor degree from the Seattle University School of Law.
The Chancellor and Sandy Parnell have lived in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley for more than 35 years, and are the proud parents of two daughters and four grandchildren.
UAA 2027
The UAA 2027 Strategic Plan sets forth who we are as a University and is our framework for student success. It clarifies our mission of life transformation through education. Additionally, UAA 2027 establishes the values that shape our behaviors, decisions, and resource allocations, guiding our efforts to continuous improvement. All of UAA's planning efforts align with UAA 2027. The elements of UAA 2027 cascade throughout the academic and administrative units to align our efforts around the core competencies and maximize our shared contribution to student success.
Seeking Seawolves Feedback on Draft Policies
DRAFT Meritorious Service Award Policy
Please provide comments on any draft policy to uaa_chancellor@alaska.edu by December 10, 2024. Thank you!
Big Ideas
Have an idea that you would like the chancellor to review and consider? Ideas can be anything from a new service on campus, process improvement, new research or innovation. All ideas are welcome.