Former Alaska governor Parnell to be UAA chancellor May 12, 2021 GMT ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Former Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has been named chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage. The selection was made by Pat Pitney, the University of Alaska system interim president, from a group of eight finalists and announced by the system on Wednesday. Parnell is expected to start in the new position next month. Bruce Schultz has been serving as interim chancellor since January, following the departure of Cathy Sandeen. Pitney in a statement said Parnell brings a commitment to Alaska and “a desire for all Alaskans to have access to higher education.” She said Parnell understands the issues facing the university and “will help stabilize our budget through building UAA’s reputation and expanding enrollment and fundraising.”