UA’s Hamilton names finalists for Fairbanks interim chancellor

Submitted by Kate Ripley
Phone: 907-450-8102
04/08/08

University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton today announced two finalists under consideration to replace outgoing University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Steve Jones as interim chancellor. Both men, John Davies and Brian Rogers, have long records of public service within UA, the community and state.

Davies is research director at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center on the Fairbanks campus. He is a former state seismologist and research associate at UAF’s Geophysical Institute. He’s also president of the UAF Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Rogers is principal consultant and chief financial officer for Information Insights, a Fairbanks consulting firm. He served an eight-year term on the UA Board of Regents, three as chair, and previously worked as the system’s finance vice president. Both men are long-time Fairbanks residents and both served stints in the Alaska State House of representatives---Davies from 1993 to 2003 and Rogers from 1979 to 1982.

Jones recently announced his intention to leave UAF to pursue other opportunities and be closer to Lower 48 family members.

Hamilton wants to name the interim by May 1 in light of budget planning for FY10, already in full swing. He wants the interim to serve at least two years, allowing the new chancellor to have an impact on the budget, provide for a smooth transition and allow enough time for a national search that could begin at about this time next year. Campus governance groups will sponsor an open forum April 16 and 17 at the Wood Center commons area for each finalist. Davies’ forum will be from 4-6 p.m. April 16 and Rogers’ from 4-6 p.m. April 17. This will provide an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to hear directly from the two, to ask questions and talk about issues of importance to UAF.

"I’d like an opportunity for the UAF community to meet with these two gentlemen, and I’d like feedback," Hamilton said. "This kind of process will help me as I move forward in making a final decision."

Resumes for Davies and Rogers can be found at www.alaska.edu/pres.