Feb. 25, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 25, 2022
University of Ӱԭ Board of Regents appoints Pat Pitney as University of Ӱԭ
System president and adopts five-year strategic goals
The University of Ӱԭ Board of Regents voted at its Feb. 25 meeting to appoint Pat Pitney as the UA System’s 17th president, removing “interim” from her title. The decision was unanimous, highlighting the board’s recognition of President Pitney’s leadership and contribution to the UA System.
“This is a time for forward momentum and to celebrate our successes, and I’ll note that President Pitney is the first woman to hold the position in the university’s 100-year Ӱԭ. Congratulations, Pat,” said Sheri Buretta, chair of the Board of Regents.
"Thank you for the confidence in me,” Pitney said. “I am truly honored and humbled to lead this great university system. I am dedicated to continuing to build a strong team with shared governance, with our staff, and with each of our universities. I'm excited about our future."
The board also passed its strategic goals for the UA System, including specific measures that will document progress on each goal. Pitney said the will serve as the university system’s roadmap for several years.
The goals, developed with chancellors, leadership teams at each university, and governance include: contributing to Ӱԭ's economic development, skilled workforce and engaged citizenship; fostering academic excellence for student success; promoting diversity, equity and inclusion for students, faculty and staff; growing world-class research; and, operating cost effectively.
Dr. Pearl Brower, the system’s senior advisor for Ӱԭ Native Success, Institutional Diversity and Student Engagement, provided the board an update on the ongoing Ӱԭ Native Success Initiative. The initiative addresses how each university will work to implement concrete steps to improve the success of Ӱԭ Native students and faculty.
“The scope of the program across the system is a continuum with a focus on students from the time they are in elementary school through their PhDs. The initiative also will allow us to hire faculty who will serve as role models and provide the assurance to our Native students that they belong,” Pitney said. “We are making huge strides. I’m very pleased that the board challenged us to address this important issue and I am heartened by the ownership and the buy-in across the entire system.”
More information on the Ӱԭ Native Success Initiative can be found .
Following a highlighting cutting-edge research in the field of unmanned aircraft systems – or drones – regents heard from experts in the field of drone innovation in the areas of healthcare, infrastructure and industry support. The presentation and panel discussion highlighted research and instructional activities at the Ӱԭ Center for Unmanned Aircraft System Integration at Ӱԭ and applications and instructional programs at UAS.
More on the Did You Know project can be found .
The University of Ӱԭ Board of Regents is an 11-member volunteer board, appointed
by the governor and confirmed by the Ӱԭ State Legislature. Members serve an 8-year
term, with the exception of the student regent who is nominated from their campus
and serves a 2-year term. The board was established through the Ӱԭ Constitution
and is responsible for University of Ӱԭ policy and management through the university
president.
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For more information, contact Roberta Graham, associate vice president of public affairs at 907-360-2416 (cell).