Previous chancellors

Ambassador Mike Sfraga (ret.), Ph.D., was appointed to serve as UAF interim chancellor in July 2025. Sfraga is a three-time presidential appointee, Fulbright Scholar, author, public speaker, former think tank director, and university executive.

Sfraga was nominated by President Joseph Biden, upon the recommendation of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and later confirmed  by a bipartisan vote  of the U.S. Senate to serve as the nation’s first ambassador-at-large for Arctic affairs. He was twice appointed by President Biden to serve as chair of the United States Arctic Research Commission.

Sfraga previously served as the founding director and then-chair and distinguished fellow of the Polar Institute, as well as director of the Global Risk and Resilience Program, at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He is a Fulbright Scholar and co-developed and twice served as co-lead scholar for the U.S. State Department’s inaugural Fulbright Arctic Initiative.

Sfraga plays a central role in the further development and growth of the Munich Security Conference Arctic Security Roundtable and frequently leads this high-level dialogue. He has held numerous administrative, academic and executive-level positions, is a resident of Alaska, and has spent nearly four decades working on Arctic-related issues.

A geographer by training, Sfraga’s work is centered on the evolving domestic and international dimensions of the Arctic. His extensive public speaking, facilitation, consultation, and development of conceptual frameworks have provided context and clarity, furthering our understanding of the Arctic.

Sfraga is called upon to inform and influence meaningful policy discussions, such as the nexus of U.S. Arctic and foreign policy, the increasingly complex geopolitical and security landscapes of the Arctic, the internationalization of the Arctic, including the inherent connections between the Arctic and the Pacific, North American and Euro-Atlantic regions.

Sfraga is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, has testified before Congress, and maintains an active national and international speaking and facilitation schedule. His commentary has been featured in major media outlets. He is co-editor of the Wilson Center Monograph “Navigating the Arctic’s 7Cs,” which explores the conceptual framework for considering and addressing the key drivers of change in the Arctic.

Sfraga earned the first Ph.D. in Northern studies and geography from UAF. He also has a bachelor’s degree from UAF and a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University.

Daniel M. White served as University of Alaska Fairbanks chancellor from July 2017-July 2025. He previously served as University of Alaska vice president for academic affairs and research. He joined the faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1995 as a professor of civil and environmental engineering. White served in several positions at UAF, including director of the Institute of Northern Engineering, UAF associate vice chancellor for research and head of the Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization and interim vice chancellor for research. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Colorado College, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Washington University and a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

Thomas was born and raised in Fairbanks, is an alumnus of UAF and was the statewide vice president of academic affairs and research from 2012 to 2014. He served six years as chair of UAF's Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

In 2005, Thomas received the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching Award for sustained excellence in teaching at UAF. From 2006 to 2012, Thomas served as UAF's vice provost and accreditation liaison officer. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities asked him to serve as an institutional accreditation evaluator of other institutions. 

In addition to his distinguished career in teaching, Thomas is recognized for his interdisciplinary research on the design and analysis of studies assessing resource (food and habitat) selection by animals. His career also features contributions at the international level, including work for two years in the Republic of Yemen facilitating a national survey of agriculture and two years in the Sultanate of Oman improving their fisheries statistics operations.

Michael K. Powers was appointed UAF’s interim chancellor by University of Alaska President Pat Gamble in July 2015 and officially assumed the role Sept. 1. Powers was an executive at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for nearly three decades, first as chief financial officer and, for the past 20 years, as chief executive officer. He was also a member of the UA Board of Regents since 2011, serving as chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and as board secretary, treasurer and, most recently, vice chair. (He resigned from the Board of Regents after his appointment as chancellor.)

In his interim role, Powers helped the new president, Jim Johnsen, launch a search for the permanent chancellor. (Johnsen replaced Gamble, who retired in August 2015.) In the meantime, Powers provided leadership to UAF, continuing the process of identifying and strengthening its core academic areas, and navigating the tough financial terrain due to Alaska’s economic condition. 

Powers holds a master's degree in health services administration from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s degree in Anglo-Irish literature from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Powers and his wife, Teri Spires, have three grown children.

Brian Rogers served as interim chancellor from July 1, 2008, until May 14, 2009, when he was named permanent chancellor.

Brian Rogers was named chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks by University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton in May 2009. A longtime Fairbanks resident and state leader, Rogers served for seven years as the UA system's finance vice president, four years in the Alaska State House and eight years as a member of the UA Board of Regents, with three of those years as chair.

A former UAF student, he attended Trinity College and Brown University before receiving his master's degree in public administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In 1996, Rogers formed Information Insights, an economic and public policy consulting firm, serving as principal consultant and chief financial officer.

Rogers is married to UAF alumna Sherry Modrow. They have two grown sons, both of whom hold degrees from UAF. Rogers has served as chair of the UArctic Board of Governors, The Nature Conservancy Alaska Trustees and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference CEO board, as well as a member of numerous community and state organizations including the Foraker Group Governance Board, the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Fairbanks Downtown Rotary and several others.

Steve Jones was named the fifth chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks by University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton in May 2004 and assumed his new position in August.

Under Jones' leadership, UAF embraced its brand and identity as America's Arctic university and Alaska's research university. UAF's 2010 strategic plan expressed the sentiment that "we know who we are; we know where we are going; we know what it will take to get there."

Jones came to UAF from North Carolina, where he served as vice chancellor for extension and engagement at North Carolina State University. While at NCSU, Jones was responsible for the university's extension, outreach and distance and continuing education efforts, including the Cooperative Extension Service and the Centennial Campus, a 1,100-acre research park aimed at developing partnerships between the university and private businesses and government agencies. He also oversaw the 200-acre Centennial Bio-Medical Campus, which houses a College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Centennial Campus Partnership Office, which manages the two research campuses.

From 1997-2001, Jones was director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, where he oversaw and implemented the unification of previously separate extension services operated by Auburn and Alabama A&M universities.

Jones has held faculty positions at the School of Forest Resources at Pennsylvania State University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. He was a tenured professor in the College of Natural Resources Department of Forestry at North Carolina State University. His research interests are primarily in the area of sustainable forestry, with a particular focus on three issues: resource sustainability, forest-based economic development and soil-site relationships.

He has a Ph.D. in resources management and a bachelor's degree in forestry from SUNY Syracuse. He also holds an associate degree in forestry from Maryland's Allegany Community College.

Prior to his academic career, Jones worked 12 years in Virginia, Georgia and Alabama for the Union Camp Corp., a Fortune 500, multifaceted paper and allied products manufacturer. He and his wife, Judy, have two children.

Marshall Lind became UAF chancellor in August 1999, after serving as chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast from 1987-1999. Previous to his appointment as chancellor at UAS, Lind served in various positions for the University of Alaska system, from visiting professor of education to dean of the School of Extended and Graduate Studies.

Lind was commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education from 1971-1983, and again from 1986-1987, serving under four governors for a combined total of more than 13 years. During his tenure as commissioner he was involved with the creation of the Regional Educational Attendance Areas and the implementation of the Molly Hootch consent decree. He was the superintendent of schools for the Kodiak Island Borough School District from 1969-1971.

In 1961, Lind began a six-year teaching stint with the Bureau of Indian Affairs working in Kwigillingok, Goodnews Bay and Emmonak.

Lind received his Ph.D. in educational administration from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, his master's degree in education from the University of Montana in Missoula and his bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He received a distinguished alumni award from Northwestern.

Lind has served on various national committees, including a United States presidential appointment to the National Adult Education Council. He has also served as an executive board member of the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Lind received the 2002 Denali Award from the Alaska Federation of Natives, the highest honor AFN gives to non-Natives, for his commitment to serving the educational needs of rural and Native Alaskans.

He retired in 2004 and was awarded the title of chancellor emeritus.

He and his wife, Lois, have three children and three grandchildren.

Chancellor Lind's retirement letter

2004 Emeriti resolution (PDF)

Joan K. Wadlow became UAF chancellor on July 1, 1991. During her tenure she developed a long-range strategic plan to lead UAF into the 21st century; completed the university's first-ever private fundraising campaign, which raised $12.1 million; spearheaded public and private partnerships to address Alaska and Arctic issues aggressively; and sought alternatives to maintain momentum during a decade of shrinking budgets.

Before becoming UAF chancellor, Wadlow spent her professional career at three other major public universities: the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Wyoming and the University of Oklahoma. She was a professor of political science, and has been a dean, vice president of academic affairs and provost.

In 1998, she participated as a member of the University President's Mission to Israel and as a panel member for "Opening Our Own Doors: Women and Higher Education in Wyoming" at the American Heritage Center's 7th Annual Symposium, "Schoolmarms and Scholars: Women Educators of the American West" at the University of Wyoming.

Wadlow received several teaching and community service awards, and published on topics such as U.S. foreign policy, international education and educational equality.

Wadlow's Ph.D. and baccalaureate degrees are from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; her master's degree is from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; and she has a certificate from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was a Rotary scholar.

She retired in 1999 and was awarded the title of chancellor emeritus.

Wadlow grew up in Norfolk, Nebraska. She and her husband, Dick, have two daughters.

Patrick J. O'Rourke served as chancellor of UAF from 1981-1991. He had lived in Alaska since 1964, and had a long involvement with the University of Alaska.

O'Rourke served as the first chancellor for the Division of Rural Education, Extension, and two-year colleges from 1977 until his selection as UAF chancellor. He was responsible for the University of Alaska's system of extended learning, including a large urban campus, 10 regional two-year colleges, the statewide Cooperative Extension Service and other statewide programs. From 1972-1977 he headed the University of Alaska's first rural college campus, located in Bethel. Following the success of this campus, four other branch campuses were opened to serve other rural areas of the state.

His appointment as UAF's chancellor brought him back to a campus he had served earlier as project director of its Upward Bound Program from 1970-1972.

O'Rourke came to Alaska in 1964 to take a teaching and counseling job at Bethel High School.

He earned his doctorate in educational psychology and higher education administration at the University of Connecticut, and his master's degree in psychology at Indiana State University. He received a bachelor of arts degree in English and psychology from St. John's University in New York.

He retired in 1991 and was awarded the title of chancellor emeritus.

He and his wife, Charla Ranch, have four children.

During a sweeping reorganization of the University of Alaska system in 1975, chancellors were appointed to oversee programs at the state's three urban centers in Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Howard Cutler assumed responsibility for the Fairbanks campus, considered the flagship of the university system, and managed its research and academic programs until 1981.

Cutler graduated from the University of Iowa in 1940 and received a master's degree in economics a year later. In 1943, Cutler received a Certificate of Graduation from Harvard University and in 1953 received his doctorate in economics from Columbia University.

He began his teaching career in 1946 at UI and held faculty positions at the University of Illinois, University of Chicago and Penn State University.

Former UA President William Wood appointed Cutler to the post of vice president for academic affairs for the University of Alaska in 1962, a position he held until 1966.

From 1966-1976, Cutler served as senior vice president of the Institute of International Education in New York City.

In 1976, Cutler returned to Fairbanks as chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His return to Alaska was requested by more than 100 members of the Fairbanks business community, all of who had signed a petition supporting his appointment as UAF's first chancellor.

In 1981 Cutler assumed the position of regent's professor of economics at UAF. At UAF's 1983 commencement, the university conferred upon him the rank of chancellor emeritus and regent's professor of economics, emeritus.

Stricken with Parkinson's disease in 1981, Cutler remained active in community and university affairs until his death in 1995. He and his wife, Enid Ellison Cutler, have three children.