New Academic and Administrative Leaders at UAA Campuses

“One of the things that drew me to UAA is how connected it is to Alaska and the Anchorage community,” Sherman says. “Our students come here to build careers and lives in Alaska, and CBPP has a real opportunity to help them do that. Serving as dean at a university that plays such an important role in workforce development across the state is something I take very seriously and is an opportunity that I truly value.”

Ian Hartman, a historian by training, is the new Director of UAA’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER).

“Becoming ISER’s new director is both an honor and a tremendous responsibility,” Hartman says. “ISER has a long history of helping Alaskans better understand the challenges and opportunities facing our state, and that mission is as important today as ever.”

Hartman has been with UAA’s Department of History since 2011. He chaired the department from 2020 to 2024, served as Faculty Senate president from 2022 to 2023, and most recently he was associate dean of faculty for the College of Arts and Sciences. He chairs the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and facilitated an innovative dual enrollment partnership with South Anchorage High School’s Civic Leadership Program.

Hartman earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his PhD from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His teaching has focused on the political and cultural history of the United States, while his research has covered race, power and politics in Alaska, the American West, and the nation. Hartman has authored, co-authored, and edited five books in addition to many scholarly publications, and he was recently guest curator of the Anchorage Museum exhibit, “Cold War to the Cosmos: Distant Early Warning Systems and the Arctic.”

Hartman says, “We have an extraordinary team of researchers asking critical questions and producing work that informs public discussion and decision-making across Alaska. My goal is to help our researchers thrive, strengthen ISER’s connections across the state and ensure we continue providing rigorous, independent research that helps Alaska navigate the future.”

Karen Davis O’Hara returns to her hometown as Director of Kenai Peninsula College (KPC). O’Hara was born and raised in Alaska, graduating from Soldotna High School (SoHi) before attending the University of California, Davis, where she completed her bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in human development.

O’Hara worked at California State University, Sacramento for twenty-two years, where she specialized in teaching and research on children’s emotional development and its relation to psychobiology. She held the positions of professor, department chair, and associate dean of instruction and student success for the College of Education. O’Hara then became executive dean of Sierra College – Nevada County Campus in Grass Valley, California.

“When I graduated from SoHi in the late ‘80s, I never dreamed that I’d be back home serving as the director of KPC!” says O’Hara. “I’m so excited that my career path in higher education has led me to this position, and I am so excited to serve the students and industries in the community where I grew up.”

UAA appointed Sam Hirt as its new Director of Kodiak College, effective January 2027. In this position, Hirt oversees all aspects of campus operations and serves as the college’s primary representative to local, regional, statewide, and national partners. Interim Director Jackie Cason continues to serve through the fall semester.

Born and raised in Fairbanks and a graduate of Barrow High School, Hirt returns to Alaska with more than a decade of academic experience. Hirt currently serves as Interim Provost at Southern Virginia University, where he manages the academic budget and collaborates across departments.

Hirt earned his bachelor’s degree in integrative biology from Brigham Young University in 2006 and a master’s degree in zoology from Auburn University in 2008, where he conducted research on silver-haired bats. He completed his doctoral studies at the University of Alaska, developing a novel method for estimating bowhead whale calving rates through baleen analysis in collaboration with scientists and Iñupiat whalers of the North Slope.

“I’m honored to return home to Alaska and to join the Kodiak College community,” says Hirt. “Kodiak College plays a vital role in expanding educational opportunities across the region, and I look forward to working with faculty, staff, and community partners to support student success and strengthen our connection to the island and beyond.”

The new Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at UAA is Chuck Knepfle. In this role, Knepfle serves all UAA campuses and community locations, helping lead efforts that support students from recruitment through graduation.

Knepfle most recently served as vice president for enrollment management at Portland State University. Prior to Portland State, he served as assistant vice president for enrollment management and director of financial aid at Clemson University. Knepfle has become nationally recognized for his expertise in enrollment management, financial aid policy, and student success, serving in leadership roles with organizations such as the Higher Education Loan Coalition and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Knepfle holds a bachelor’s degree in systems analysis and an MBA from Miami University, as well as a PhD in educational leadership from Clemson University. His research, teaching, and service have focused on strategic enrollment management, college affordability, student access, and higher education policy.

“I’ve spent my career believing that higher education should be within reach for every student who seeks it, regardless of background, ZIP code, or financial circumstance,” says Knepfle. “Higher education changes lives, but only if it’s truly accessible. UAA understands that, and it’s reflected in the university’s deep commitment to serving students from every corner of this state.”