University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Sean Parnell poses in an undated photo. (University of Alaska Anchorage photo)
University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Sean Parnell has announced that he would retire at the end of the spring semester.
“UAA is well-positioned for a bright future,” Parnell said in a prepared statement released on Tuesday.
He added: “We offer a clear value proposition to our students as an affordable, accessible path to careers and meaningful lives. It has been an honor to serve at UAA, where we create opportunities for others through our collective work.”
After four years, Parnell announced he would retire, citing family reasons. “I hope to have more flexibility to care for parents and to focus on relationships with other family members, friends, and former colleagues,” he said. “Additionally, I plan to have more time to research, write, and continue coaching or teaching emerging leaders.”
Parnell, 62, was not available for an interview about his tenure as chancellor.
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney appointed Parnell in 2021, and praised his leadership and service as chancellor of UAA, the largest of the three universities within the University of Alaska system.
“He joined our system during a challenging time, and has been a dedicated chancellor since Day 1, revitalizing connections with the Anchorage and the UAA Community,” Pitney said in a prepared statement on Tuesday. “He’ll be very missed. As we navigate the transition in the coming months, I’m committed to quality two-way communication with UAA stakeholders to fill the Chancellor role in a way that sets UAA up for continued success, and maintains the stability that’s been built during his tenure.”
UAA includes roughly 12,000 students across campuses in Anchorage, Palmer, Kodiak, Valdez, Soldotna and Homer.
During his term as chancellor, Parnell prioritized college affordability and expanding community partnerships, and led UAA through the COVID-10 pandemic.
Parnell, a Republican, served as Alaska’s 10th governor from 2009 to 2014. He was elected as lieutenant governor in 2006, and assumed the governorship in 2009 when Sarah Palin resigned, eight months after her defeat as U.S. Sen. John McCain’s running mate for vice president. In 2010, he was elected governor and served one term. He lost his reelection bid in 2014 to Bill Walker.
Parnell has had a long career in Alaska politics and law. He started as an attorney based in Anchorage in 1987. He was elected to the Alaska House at the age of 29 in 1992, and served one term before being elected to the Alaska Senate for one term, until 2000. He returned to practicing law, working for public and private interests, including the oil and gas company ConocoPhillips.
With Parnell’s retirement announcement, the University of Alaska administration will be recruiting and hiring a new chancellor to oversee UAA, which has a $332 million budget.
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