UAF chancellor search committee partners with national search firm

Nov. 21, 2025

The UAF chancellor search committee is temporarily pausing its efforts in order to partner with WittKieffer, a nationally recognized executive search firm that is also leading the search for a new UA president. This strategic step is designed to elevate the opportunity, strengthen recruitment efforts, expand outreach and ensure UAF attracts the most qualified and diverse pool of candidates. As part of the process, WittKieffer will collaborate with the current search committee and build on its work, including assisting with vetting candidates who have already submitted their applications.

This brief pause will also allow time for the search firm to align the UAF chancellor and UA presidential search timelines and outreach strategies.

“This pivot ensures the committee is taking a proactive, comprehensive approach to recruiting the next chancellor and will allow the incoming president, in collaboration with President Pitney and the Board of Regents, to select the incoming chancellor,” explained Nickole Conley, the UA interim chief human resources officer.

The WittKieffer team will be visiting 91Ƶ the week of Dec. 8, and will offer dedicated time to the UAF community to provide input on both searches. More details will be available closer to the visit date. 

The committee will continue to provide updates to faculty, staff, students and the broader UAF community as the updated search timeline is finalized in the coming weeks. A tentative schedule is shared below: 

December 2025

  • Committee engages with WittKieffer
  • December 9-10, 2025 - WittKieffer at UAF 
    • UAF Community Listening Session, details coming soon!

January 2026

  • Continue to recruit applicants

February 2026

  • WittKieffer updates committee on search progress and prepares to review applicants

March 2026

  • Search committee begins full review of applicants

April 2026

  • Search committee conducts Zoom interviews

May 2026

  • Candidates are invited to on-campus interviews
  • Candidate is selected and hired

July 2026

  • New chancellor starts

“We want to thank everyone for their patience as we work on updating the timeline of the UAF chancellor search so we can attract the best pool of candidates for this position,” Conley said.

To stay informed with the most up-to-date information, please visit the website.