Chancellor's update: Getting to know UAF

Oct. 15, 2026

— By Russ Vander Lugt, UAF chancellor

Greetings UAF community!

As of this writing, I am one-third of the way through my “100 Days of Immersion” across UAF, with opportunities to listen, learn and better understand our institution. These visits are an important first step in developing relationships and laying the groundwork for trust across our UAF community. Getting to know the faces, spaces and places of UAF has been the highlight of my time serving as chancellor thus far! 

Vision summit and strategic planning 
We plan to culminate the 100-day initiative with a collaborative vision summit, gathering leaders from across UAF to draft our shared vision for the future. The vision summit will propel us into phase two of the strategic planning process this spring. Please take a moment to visit the strategic planning website, which includes a calendar of my visits to all of UAF’s units. I am also documenting the journey on my LinkedIn page. 

Convocation
Thank you to those of you who joined in-person or online this week for the 2026 convocation event, moderated by Robert Hannon. I am grateful for UA President Matt Cooper’s participation. As you know, this year’s approach was new. The informal format was intended to be an opportunity for you to get to know Matt and I, our respective leadership styles, and how we work together. I also look forward to taking questions during our upcoming town hall on Oct. 27, including briefly discussing results from our community feedback survey. You can use the town hall Google form to submit other questions you’d like to see addressed.

Chancellor’s House
The Facilities Services team is working diligently to complete renovations to the Chancellor’s House, first occupied by the university’s third president, Ernest Patty. It has been more than a decade since a chancellor last lived in the house and I believe it is important to restore this space as a visible, welcoming presence on campus. It will not only reestablish the tradition of an on-campus chancellor’s residence, but also create opportunities to host university events, strengthen relationships, and foster meaningful engagement with our campus and broader community. I look forward to moving in toward the end of this month. We might even make it before the snow flies (hopefully).

Federal leaders visit campus
UAF made a strong impression during last week’s visit with NASA administrator Jared Isaacman. He was impressed with our people, capabilities and facilities. This week, UAF hosted Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who visited the Troth Yeddha’ Campus to learn about UAF’s critical minerals research capacity. We believe UAF and Alaska have much to offer our nation, whether that be expertise on natural resources vital to national and energy security or support for our nation’s journey to beyond Earth. 

Provost search
The search for UAF’s next provost is moving forward, and we are partnering with a nationally recognized executive search firm to guide the process. On Nov. 5, the firm will meet with the search committee and engage with university stakeholders to gather input on the essential qualities for our next provost. This feedback will help shape the position profile and guide our efforts to identify solid candidates. We are committed to a transparent search process that invites broad participation and keeps the UAF community informed.

Closing thought on shared governance
As chancellor, I am committed to shared governance and to meaningful engagement with our governing bodies. I recognize that, in today’s complex and rapidly changing higher education environment, shared governance requires more than consultation; it demands mutual respect, clarity about roles and responsibilities, transparency in decision-making, and a shared commitment to institutional accountability. There will be times when perspectives differ and difficult decisions must be made with urgency, particularly as we navigate financial pressures, evolving public expectations and challenges to higher education. My commitment is to ensure that our decisions are informed by the expertise and experience of our campus community, that diverse perspectives are heard and thoughtfully considered, and that we maintain the trust necessary to move forward together in service of UAF’s mission, our students, and the people of Alaska.

Ad summum!