Pat Pitney appointed University of Alaska president

Pat Pitney, who has been serving as interim president of the University of Alaska system since August 2020, was appointed its permanent president by the Board of Regents on Friday.

Pitney was confirmed in a unanimous vote, and will be the first woman to serve as president of the 100-year-old institution, according to Board of Regents Chair Sheri Buretta.

“Thank you for the confidence in me,” Pitney said after the vote. “This is a true honor and I’m humbled to be able to represent this great university system.”

Pitney was state budget director under former Gov. Bill Walker and also previously served as director of the state’s Legislative Finance Division. She was vice chancellor of administration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and including her time in additional roles at UA, she worked for the university system for 23 years before joining the Walker administration, according to the university’s website. Pitney also won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games during the women’s air rifle event.

The Board of Regents chair has not yet negotiated the terms of Pitney’s contract, including her salary, according to UA spokesperson Roberta Graham.