Office of the Chancellor

UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell
Former Alaska Governor Sean Parnell began his role as chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage on June 12, 2021. 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.
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 ascended to the office of Governor 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 law degree from the Seattle University School of Law.
The Chancellor and Sandy Parnell have lived in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley for more 35 years, and are the proud parents of two daughters and four grandchildren.
UAA 2027
The UAA 2027 Strategic Plan provides a framework to define, communicate, and clarify expectations for our mission, vision, values and shared goals. It builds on our strengths and focuses our attention and resources on delivering tangible value to our stakeholders and creating areas of distinction. It clarifies our mission, sets an aspirational vision for the future, establishes the values that shape our behaviors and decisions, and results in a set of goals and objectives that reflect our ambitions and priorities, focuses our investments, and guides our continuous improvement efforts. The elements of this plan are cascaded throughout the academic and administrative units in Anchorage and our Community Campuses to align our efforts and maximize our shared contribution to success.
Coronavirus
The University of Alaska is partnering with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019. Our health and emergency management teams are monitoring the status of the outbreak and are reporting back to university leaders so we can be prepared if COVID-19 directly affects our students or employees. UAA coronavirus information.
Chancellor Messages
- December 2022
- November 2022
- November 2: Celebrating National Alaska Native and Native American Heritage Month 2022
- November 2: Pack the house for the final Seawolf volleyball home matches this weekend
- November 30: Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2022 Summary Report
- November 30: Alaska Native Success Initiative November Update
- October 2022
- October 6: Congratulations to the 2022 Chancellor's Awards for Excellence recipients!
- October 7: See you during Homecoming Week Oct. 10-15
- October 10: Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day 2022
- October 21: Message from Ryan Buchholdt: Weather Closure Update
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October 31: Chancellor Memo regarding UAA Caucus meeting recap and follow-up report
- September 2022
- September 2: UAA Closed Monday, Sep. 5th, in observance of Labor Day
- September 8: Reminder to complete annual Title IX training
- September 15: Keeping UAA affordable and accessible
- September 20: Resources for those affected by Typhoon Merbok
- September 30: Welcome back, Seawolf Hockey!
- September 30: UAA Alaska Native Success Initiative (ANSI) Update
- August 2022
- August 10: Update on Parking costs at UAA
- August 11: Update on COVID-19 masking policy
- August 23: Join UAA at the Alaska State Fair Aug. 26-28
- August 27: Start the year strong with Campus Kickoff Aug. 27
- August 30: Fall 2022 update on COVID-19
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- March 2: UAA loosens mask restrictions
- March 16: What's next at UAA with Chancellor Parnell: Ukraine
- March 20: Remembering Congressman Don Young
- March 24: Opening campus more widely
- February 2022
- February 15: Update about UAA mask policy
- February 16: Celebrating Elizabeth Kaaxal.gat Peratrovich
- February 25: Resources for those impacted by invasion of Ukraine
- January 2022
- January 10: A new year brings new challenges
- January 10: Welcome to the spring semester
- January 17: Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- 2021
- Jan 04: Interim Chancellor Schultz welcomes you to Spring 2021
- Jan 05: Catching up with Interim Chancellor Bruce Schultz
- Jan 07: Interim Chancellor comments on the events in the nation's capital
- Jan 15: UA BOR reinstates Alpine skiing
- Jan 15: Celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Jan 21: Better together: Joint message with UAS and UAF Chancellors
- Feb 3: Embracing Change
- Feb 25: UA BOR extends fund raising deadline for gymnastics and hockey
- March 26: It's spring, Seawolves! A message from Interim Chancellor Schultz
- April 19: Feedback request UAA Administrative Management Structure Review
- May 7: End of the year update from the Chancellor
- May 18: Return to campus plan
- June 11: Update from Interim Chancellor Schultz
- June 14: Chancellor Sean Parnell joins UAA community
- June 18: Juneteenth now a federal holiday
- July 4: Celebrating Fourth of July
- July 7: Update on FY22 budget and legislative progress
- July 15: Anchorage campus open to students, faculty, staff on August 2nd
- July 29: Return to Campus August 2, 2021
- July 30: Masking required at UAA
- August 12: VC for Student Affairs Bruce Schultz to retire from UAA
- August 19: Support and resources following recent events in Afghanistan
- August 20: Congratulations to 2021 Chancellor's Awards for Excellence winners
- August 23: Welcome to the fall 2021 semester
- August 31: Seawolf hockey meets $3 million August 30 fundraising goal for reinstatement
- September 2: Celebrating UAA Day at the Fair Sept. 3; Labor Day Sept. 6
- September 13: Chancellor update on Board of Regents Meetings
- September 15: Chancellor announces key UAA leadership hire
- September 16: Reminder to complete annual Title IX training
- September 30: National day of remembrance for U.S. Indian boarding schools
- Oct. 4: COVID-19 update from the Chancellor
- Oct. 11: Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day
- Nov 11: Celebrating Veterans Day
- Nov 19: VC for University Advancement Megan Olson departing UAA
- Nov 24: Giving thanks to the Seawolf community
- Nov 30: Celebrating the life and legacy of Greg Myford
- Dec 17: UAA to recieve 2.1M state funding for College of Health
- Dec 20: Happy holiday, Seawolves!
- 2020
- January 21:UA Board of Regents approves tuition increase, sets aside $1.5 million for student financial aid
- January 16: Chancellor announces new NSS Leadership
- January 14: Spring 2020 updates
- January 13: Video Message from the Chancellor: Welcome to Spring
- February 28: John Nofsinger to serve as interim dean of CBPP
- February 25: Expedited Program Review Deans' Recommendations
- February 19: Just the Facts: Chancellor answers questions about expedited program reviews
- February 18: Expedited program review update
- February 6: Administrative review update
- February 5: Just the Facts: Chancellor Sandeen answers questions about tuition
- March 28: What the new state health mandates mean for UAA
- March 27: Chancellor to entire UAA Community, thank you
- March 23: Chancellor decisions posted for expedited program and administrative reviews
- March 21: What does "Hunker Down" order mean for UAA
- March 21: Alternate Course Delivery begins March 23
- March 20: COVID-19 updates for campus buildings, technology and remote work
- March 16: COVID-19 updates for campus events and UAA Community
- March 15: COVID-19 update to UA Travel Policy
- March 12: Update on UA's COVID-19 response
- March 9: UAA Budget Reduction Update
- March 5: Coronavirus update
- March 4: Community Listening Session for Expedited Program & Administrative Review Scheduled for March 11
- April 30: Chancellor update on furloughs
- April 27: Ideas needed for UA inter-university collaborations
- April 24: Share your congrats to our grads
- April 16: A tribute to our Grads: UAA Spring 2020 Graduation Day Celebration
- April 15: Chancellor update on expedited program review, furloughs and more
- April 10: Chancellor Sandeen recaps COVID-19 developments for week April 5-10
- April 3: Chancellor Sandeen recaps the most recent COVID-19 developments
- May 29: Update on UAA's on-site operations
- May 26: UAA Administration Updates
- May 21: BOR charge: Transformative structural options for UA system
- May 20: Just the facts: On-site operations plan
- May 13: UAA announces new Kodiak College Director
- May 8: UAA announces new leadership hires for diversity, academics and research
- May 7: Congratulations to Chancellor Awards and Affordable Course Material Award winners
- May 6: Have a great Summer
- May 5: Launching Shared Services Planning
- May 4: UAA Fall 2020 plans
- June 30: Face covering policy update
- June 26: UAA to remain in Phase B for fall semester
- June 23: UA universities will move forward together
- June 18: Celebrating Pride Month and Juneteenth
- June 5: Chancellor update: June 4-5 BOR meeting
- June 1: Reaffirming UAA's commitment to equity
- July 30: On-site operations and policy guidance update
- July 30: Federal rule changes to Title IX
- July 17: Update on Fall 2020 Seawolf Athletics
- July 14: BOR announces Pat Pitney as UA Interim President
- July 10: Chancellor Sandeen finalist for UA Interim President
- July 1: Celebrating Forth of July
- August 31: Title IX and COVID-19 trainings available this week
- August 31: Shared Services proposal: Your feedback is requested
- August 26: Chancellor update on Strategic Planning and Shared Services
- August 19: Chancellor announces reconfiguration of UAA Athletics
- August 14: Senior Vice Provost Rene Carter-Chapman retires from UAA
- August 10: Chancellor Sandeen discusses College during COVID
- August 6: College During COVID: How will UAA operate this fall?
- Sept. 30: Appointment of Shared Services Task Force
- Sept. 25: Thanksgiving holiday and winter closure
- Sept. 23: UAA to remain mostly remote for Spring 2021 semester
- Sept. 21: Join a UAA 2025 strategic planning open forum
- Sept. 16: Chancellor update on shared services decision
- Sept. 11: Chancellor update on BOR athletics decision
- Sept. 3: Chancellor focuses on alignment of UAA campuses
- Sept. 2: Shared Services proposal: Your feedback is requested
- Sept. 2: Chancellor shares UAA's ongoing work on diversity, inclusion and equity
- Oct. 29: Chancellor message regarding departure
- Oct. 14: Update on campus alignment
- Oct. 12: Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day
- Nov. 30: Update on Anchorage Emergency Order EO-16
- Nov. 25: Happy Thanksgiving, Seawolves
- Nov. 20: Update on Interim chancellor selection- message from Steve Patin, CHRO
- Nov. 16: New UA COVID-19 statewide guidance
- Nov. 13: Chancellor decision on '20-21 winter indoor sports season
- Nov. 12: Chancellor response to Gov. Dunleavy message on COVID-19
- Nov. 11: Process for selecting Interim UAA Chancellor - message from President Pitney
- Nov. 11: Expressing gratitude on Veterans Day
- Nov. 2: Early voting on campus election civility
- Dec. 17: Recharge, reflect and look forward
- Dec. 14: Farewell, Seawolves
- Dec. 14: The power of community
- Dec. 9: Bruce Schultz to start as Interim Chancellor January 4, 2021- message from President Pitney
- Dec. 9: State to begin using the AAC for COVID-19 treatment
- Dec. 4: Update on UAA's COVID-19 response and protocols
- Dec 1: Announcing UAA Interim Chancellor finalists and Town Halls- message from President Pitney