Randy Bohall, B.A. ’80, has lived in Seattle, Washington for nearly 40 years. Despite the distance from UAA’s Anchorage campus, Bohall remains closely connected to his alma mater and has advocated strongly for revitalizing the UAA Seattle alumni chapter.

When plans to attend the Naval Academy fell through, Bohall decided to go to UAA, a decision he says changed the course of his career. At the time of his enrollment, UAA was still widely referred to as “Anchorage Community College,” and its campus in the heart of Anchorage was much smaller than we know it today. Bohall was one of only three full-time economics students learning primarily from five economics professors, which he says promoted a very intensive learning environment. “There was an amazing vault of knowledge from the professors that really honed my skills in economics.”

Bohall was a proud member of UAA’s rifle team, lettering all four years. His deepest friendships were developed on that team, and though his former teammates are scattered across different states, they still keep in touch whenever possible. Another favorite memory from his time as a student was playing Spades in the Cuddy Hall cafeteria. He and his buddies would spend weeks on “marathon games” over lunch, starting games and finding someone to fill in for them until they got back from classes.

After graduating, Bohall started in the banking industry, which led to the insurance industry, and finally landed in financial planning. Today he manages financial reporting for a company that handles railroad communications and train control solutions. His original plan was to work at this company for 18 months, and now it’s been over 16 years!

When asked how he stays connected to UAA while living and working in Seattle, Bohall admits “it’s hard.” He formerly served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, which afforded him a reason to fly up to Alaska on a semi-regular basis. He follows Seawolf Athletics closely and tries to attend basketball games when the Seawolves come down to Seattle Pacific University. He also looks forward to UAA Giving Day in the spring, where he can give back to the university and support students who want to follow a similar path. When news of Bohall’s support of the university made its way to the Office of Alumni and Community Engagement, plans were quickly made to create a group for Seattle alumni to connect with each other and foster continued engagement with UAA.

For people interested in economics but unsure of exactly where to go after graduating, Bohall encourages flexibility. “It’s helpful to have an idea of what you want to do with your education and your career path, but you have to keep yourself open to all possibilities. Be aware of opportunities as they come by instead of being laser-focused on the things you expect or plan to happen,” he urges. Bohall is planning to retire next June and looks forward to spending more time with his grandson.

Seattle Seawolves are encouraged to join our new LinkedIn group for alumni living in or around Seattle. The group can be used to connect with fellow graduates, stay engaged with UAA and build a stronger alumni base in the Seattle area.