University of Alaska Board of Regents selects Matthew Cooper as system’s 18th president

May 1, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 1, 2026

University of Alaska Board of Regents selects Matthew Cooper as system's 18th president

Former General Counsel brings 13 years of UA experience, strong depth of knowledge in return to Alaska's only public university system

(FAIRBANKS) - The University of Alaska Board of Regents today voted to appoint long-time Alaskan and former UA General Counsel Matthew Cooper as the next President of the University of Alaska. President-Designee Cooper brings 13 years of UA experience to the role and will succeed President Pat Pitney following her retirement in May. President-Designee Cooper currently serves as Of Counsel at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, a national law firm with offices in Anchorage; his first day as UA president will be August 3, 2026. A full biography is available on the Pres-Search website.

"President-Designee Cooper's university leadership experience, community engagement, and dedication to UA make him the right choice to serve as our 18th president," said Board Chair Scott Jepsen. "Matt has a deep understanding of the university and has worked on many of our key priorities, including the implementation of the UA Land Grant Initiative - a decades-long effort that will allow UA to receive its full federal land-grant allotment - alongside work on intellectual property commercialization and operational efficiency. The Board is confident in his ability to strengthen student enrollment, retention, and graduation; lead the university through new challenges and opportunities; and continue UA's leadership in Arctic research. Please join me in welcoming him back to the University of Alaska."

"I am excited and humbled to return to the University of Alaska, and I am grateful to the Board and search committee for this opportunity," President-Designee Cooper said. "I've seen firsthand how UA empowers our communities and state, and I believe strongly that the future on our horizon is bright. I look forward to building on the strong foundation President Pitney has established, and to working with the Board and university leadership and governance to support and advance the university's long-term vision and goals."

About the Search Process

The Board's selection follows a national search launched in fall 2025 and supported by the executive search firm WittKieffer. A 14-member search committee, chaired by Board Chair Jepsen and including regents, shared governance representatives, and Alaska Native, business, and community leaders, reviewed applications from more than 50 total candidates and recommended three finalists to the Board. Finalists were vetted in April 2026 through a confidential representative model in which constituent groups from each campus and the system office met directly with each finalist and provided feedback on the candidates to the Board of Regents.

Compensation

President-Designee Cooper's compensation is in line with President Pitney's. President Designee-Cooper's base salary will be $420,000; his total compensation package (excluding benefits) will be $429,600. President Pitney's authorized FY26 base salary is $395,765; her total compensation package (excluding benefits) is $427,565. The package was set by the Board to strike a balance between good stewardship and continuity, and to reflect the scope of leading Alaska's only public university system.

Leadership Transition

President Pitney announced her intention to retire in November 2025, and her last day will be May 21, 2026. The Board appointed Vice President of University Relations Michelle Rizk to serve as interim president during the transition period of May 22 through August 2, 2026.

"Matt is an excellent choice to lead the University of Alaska, and I'm pleased he has been selected as my successor," President Pat Pitney said. "During his time in the General Counsel's office, his thoughtful analysis and leadership on strategic issues were impactful and helped us leverage exciting new opportunities. I'm committed to working with him and the Board to facilitate a smooth transition in the coming months."

Under President Pitney's leadership, UA reversed a decade of enrollment decline, stabilized the system's fiscal outlook, and revitalized UA's connection to Alaska's workforce.

The University of Alaska inspires learning, and advances and disseminates knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, emphasizing the North and its diverse peoples. A land-, sea- and space-grant system of higher education established in 1917, the UA system's three universities (UAA, UAF, and UAS) are separately accredited institutions with community campusesand extended learning centers across the state of Alaska.

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For more information, contact Jonathon Taylor, director of public affairs at 907-350-0168 (cell), or via email at [email protected].