Q&A with Chancellor Cheryl Siemers

Cheryl Siemers was announced as UAA's chancellor by University of Alaska President Pitney earlier this month. After serving as interim chancellor for the last 10 months, UAA's Green and Gold News sat down with Chancellor Siemers to talk about fully stepping into the role of chancellor, what's next for UAA and a few of her favorite things.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself - about your journey at UAA - you're a UAA grad yourself?

A: Yes, I am a proud UAA alum! I graduated with my master's degree in English in 1996. UAA has been such a huge part of my Alaska journey. I'm originally from Maine, but came to Alaska in 1993 as a recent college grad and immediately fell in love with the beauty of the state.

At UAA, my journey began as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of English at Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) in 2002. I was hired as full-time faculty in 2006. I stepped into the director role at KPC in 2021 before I was selected by President Pitney to be UAA's interim chancellor in fall 2025.

It's been an amazing journey and I am so grateful for the incredible opportunities I have had at UAA, from serving as faculty and now as chancellor.

Q: How has the transition been? How are you feeling about fully stepping into the role as chancellor?

A: Like with all major changes in life, there's an adjustment period, but I have such a talented and supportive team that has made this transition into this role enjoyable. I have learned so much over the last 10 months and I'm excited to keep the momentum going.

Q: There seems to be a lot of positive energy on campus. What are you most excited for in the upcoming academic year?

A: Yes - I'm so glad you said that - because I have felt that too, and not just on campus, but in our community as well. The university is moving in such an exciting and positive direction, with enrollment growth across all our campuses, our recent honor from the Carnegie Foundation awarding us the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification, and being reaffirmed in our accreditation by NWCCU. What is particularly noteworthy on accreditation is that our evaluation team noted a university culture truly focused on student success and a students-first approach. That's really commendable!

UAA as a whole is really leaning into our dual mission model - we are more than a university - we're an educational community center where opportunity meets innovation and where Alaskans come to learn, grow and lead.

I think for this upcoming academic year I'm really excited about carrying this momentum forward, especially with UAA's next strategic planning process. Many stakeholders across the university, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, will be having many discussions about the future of our university. I enjoy those incredibly meaningful conversations. It's really an exciting time.

Q: Can you explain what "dual mission" means a little more? That's something we've been hearing a lot about lately. What exactly does that mean for UAA, how is it different from how the university operated before?

A: Absolutely, it's such an important message we're communicating right now. Dual mission essentially means we serve all learners. We offer accessible, affordable education for all Alaskans - whether they're just starting out, returning to school or pursuing advanced degrees. This model is not just efficient - it's essential for a state as vast and diverse as ours.

Another key component of the dual mission model is workforce development. We collaborate with industries to design programs that meet real-time needs. We offer professional development, certifications and pathways that help Alaskans upskill and stay competitive in a changing economy.

The last important piece of our dual mission model is applied research. We focus on real solutions for Alaska's most pressing needs. Faculty and students engage in research from engineering to public health, and work side-by-side with communities and industries to create solutions for our state. Our research centers and institutes provide innovative solutions that help shape policy, advance technology and train the next generation of Alaska's leaders.

Q: Recently UAA received the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement - can you tell us why that's such a huge honor for the university?

A: This is such a huge honor for the university, and it's more than just a title. It's a national recognition that demonstrates how UAA sets the standard for community partnership and collaboration in higher education in our state. In fact, we're the only university in the University of Alaska system to have earned this designation and just one of 5% of universities nationwide to earn this honor.

Q: Any other big, exciting projects coming up for the university?

A: While UAA is building momentum and thinking about the future, we are also focused on the present and serving our students to ensure that their degree is meaningful, impactful and lands them a job in Alaska when they cross the stage at graduation.

As enrollment growth increases across all our campuses, particularly on the Anchorage campus, we're looking at expanding on-campus housing to fit the needs of our current and future students. We are looking forward to increased occupancy in our residence hall on the Kenai Peninsula campus as well. Students are enjoying the experience of living on campus, and we want to ensure that all students who desire that opportunity have the ability to do so.

While this is still very much a future project, we're discussing revitalization of the Avis Alaska Sports Complex and dreaming about how we might create an expanded ice hockey rink that not only serves our hockey team but the community as well.

We are currently working with our community campuses to identify even more four-year degrees that could be completed from these locations. Those expanded opportunities will serve those communities, the state and our students well.

There's a lot of exciting opportunities ahead at UAA. Our incredible staff and faculty are making great things happen. I am honored to be a part of the next chapter of our university.

Q: When you're not busy being chancellor, what do you like to do in your free time?

A: My family is full of athletes, so I love going to middle school and high school sporting events and enjoy cheering on my kids as well as supporting my community.

When I get some time, I personally love to walk. Alaska has amazing places and spaces to take walks and hikes. I also really enjoy, as the weather gets warmer and the sidewalks clear, to take walking meetings. My predecessor, Sean Parnell, liked to do "walk and talks," and would often be seen walking about campus, so I'm hoping to incorporate more of those into my day.

Q Are you getting in your 10,000 steps a day?

A: I am working toward it - I would love to! Lately it's been hard with my schedule being so busy with meetings but it's a goal I am working toward.

Q: Now, for the serious questions - in no particular order - what are you currently binging, what book is on your nightstand (or Kindle or iPad)?

A: I do love to read and really like reading books about personal growth, whether that's in my own career, like leadership management, or just for my personal life.

I also really enjoy fiction and with an English degree background, I still like to go back and revisit the classics when I get a chance. I'm a big fan of Charlotte Brontë - I actually like all the Brontes, Charlotte, Emily and Anne - the Brontë sisters.

A quick side note, I've named pets after the Brontë family. One of our puppies is named Emily Jane, but we call her "Emmie." And an even more fun fact, there's a lesser-known brother, Branwell Brontë, and we named one of our dogs after him as well.

Q: What's your go-to snack?

A: I really like hummus - especially different flavors of hummus - with Nut Thin crackers. I also really enjoy fancy cheeses. There's a mango stilton cheese that I really like to get from a little shop in Soldotna.

Q: Lastly, when in Anchorage, if you're ordering out, where are you ordering from? When you're back home in Kenai, where's your favorite go-to restaurant?

A: Favorite Anchorage restaurants: Spenard Roadhouse, Yak and Yeti - they have great bowls.

Favorite Soldotna / Kenai restaurants: The Flats - off of K Beach - when you want something a little fancy, and Kenai River Brewing as they have great burgers. I also like the pizza at St. Elias Brewing Company.