Kodiak College Seeks New Director

This page will be updated throughout the Search Process

April 9 Update: As Kodiak College begins the search for a new Director, the Search Committee values the input of our students, faculty, staff, College Advisory Council, and community members. Your anonymous feedback will help us identify the leadership qualities, strategic priorities, and community values most important for our next leader.

Take the Director Search Feedback Survey

 

The Kodiak College Director Search committee was appointed by Chancellor Siemers on March 26. The committee members are:

• Marie Gardner: Director Mat-Su College
• Mike Trussell: KoC Library Manager
• Erin Tomson: KoC Communications Instructor
• Jared Griffin: KoC Professor of English
• Libby Eufemio: Associate Professor of AKNS
• Lorraine Stewart: KoC Career and Technical Education Coordinator
• Sandra Chichenoff: KoC Administrative Assistant to the Director
• Ryan Bucholdt: Vice Chancellor, Administrative Services, UAA

At the helm of Kodiak College (KoC) is the Director, who oversees all aspects of campus operations and serves as the primary representative of Kodiak College to the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and to local, regional, statewide, and national partners. Reporting directly to the UAA Chancellor, the Director works closely with the Provost, Vice Chancellors, Deans, and system leaders to provide visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight in support of the university’s mission and priorities.

Kodiak College is nestled in the tall Sitka Spruce on Alaska’s beautiful Emerald Isle, situated on the ancestral homelands of the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people. Kodiak Island is both breathtakingly wild and economically vital, a place where mountains, forests, and ocean converge, and where community, culture, and industry are deeply intertwined. The island is a cornerstone of Alaska’s economy and a national leader in seafood production. Kodiak consistently ranks among the top five commercial fishing ports in the United States by both volume and value of seafood landed, driven by diverse, year-round, high-volume fishing operations. Kodiak is also home to the largest United States Coast Guard Air Station, further underscoring the island’s strategic importance to maritime safety, national security, and emergency response.

As an essential community campus of UAA, Kodiak College is uniquely positioned to support the economic development and workforce needs of the entire state. The Director serves as the chief advocate for Kodiak College within the UAA system, ensuring that programs and initiatives remain responsive to local community needs while advancing university-wide goals. The Director is responsible for advancing UAA’s strategic plans, fostering innovation and academic excellence, and serving as the primary budget authority for the college.

The Director champions Kodiak College’s commitment to accessible education, workforce development, and community partnership by cultivating strong relationships with industry, government, tribal organizations, school districts, the Coast Guard, and community partners. Through these partnerships, the Director supports faculty and staff in delivering high-quality academic and career-focused programs that meet the evolving needs of Kodiak Island, Alaska, and beyond.

Kodiak College plays a vital role in preparing students for both transfer pathways and applied careers, offering certificates and degrees, career and technical education, and workforce training aligned with Alaska’s key industries. The campus serves as a hub for lifelong learning, workforce innovation, and community engagement - bridging local knowledge, Indigenous place-based understanding, and statewide economic priorities.

To thrive in this role, the successful applicant will be an effective and empathetic communicator, able to engage diverse audiences and build trust across cultures, sectors, and communities. They will unite individuals with varied backgrounds and perspectives into a collaborative, mission-driven campus community. The Director will anticipate challenges, set clear goals, and execute thoughtful, well-aligned plans while balancing shared governance with timely decision-making. Above all, the successful candidate will excel at building community - creating an environment where people feel valued, connected, and inspired to contribute to a shared vision rooted in place, purpose, and possibility.