University Of Alaska Anchorage: Chancellor Sean Parnell Joins UAA Community

Press release from the University of Alaska Anchorage:

June 14, 2021

Dear UAA Community,

I am honored to begin serving as UAA’s chancellor today. Throughout my career, I have
been an advocate for higher education and workforce development because I value the
resulting personal transformation and positive lifelong impact. The UAA community
is inspiring, and I am so proud to be joining you.

I am optimistic about the role UAA has played and will continue to play in shaping
Alaska. The university is an economic driver and opportunity creator for the state.
The past year has illuminated many other ways UAA contributes to Alaska’s success.
UAA’s faculty, staff and students have played a substantial role in supporting Southcentral
Alaska communities and the state throughout the pandemic. You have graduated nursing
students early to help bolster our health care workforce, led the state’s contact
tracing training efforts and shared the university’s personal protective equipment
to help prevent a critical shortage in local hospitals.

As I transition into the role of chancellor, I am focused on how I might best clear
paths of opportunity for you. To this end, I will meet with students, faculty, staff,
alumni, donors, community members and industry partners to gain a deep and meaningful
understanding of the obstacles and opportunities facing UAA in the short and long
term.

This week, on June 16, I will attend the annual UAA Alumni Assembly. I look forward
to attending other UAA events throughout the summer, and I am very excited to meet
you all in person when we return to campus this fall. Thank you for your patience
and understanding as I listen and learn in order to effectively lead this resilient
university into its next chapter.

I am committed to advocating for this institution and working with you to build on
its incredible history. Your story, and the story of many before you, is the UAA story.
Your dreams and motivation to attain higher education are truly inspiring. I believe
that education is a transformative gift not only for yourself, but for others as well.
I am honored to join you and look forward to the journey!

Sincerely,Sean ParnellUAA Chancellor

This press release was produced by the University of Alaska Anchorage. The views expressed here are the author’s own.