Dan White started work at UAF in 1993, then was hired in 1995 as a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He took over as chancellor in 2017. In an interview Sunday afternoon, he said ‘that’s enough.’
“This'll wrap up 30 continuous years at UAF and as eight years as Chancellor, I felt like it was time for me, and also the university's in a really good spot,” he said.
Eight years is about twice the national average for a college chancellor. During that time, White has dealt with some pressures and trials such as Governor Mike Dunleavy’s drastic statewide funding cuts in 2019, then shifting to entirely online classes during the COVID pandemic in 2020, and other challenges since then.
“Really important to me was not to leave the institution at a time when it was in distress. We were able through some very difficult times to have a stable and belonging university.
White’s administration has a list of accomplishments he's proud of.
“The university had growing enrollment for the last four years and while across the nation, universities are seeing declining enrollment, UAF is growing," he said.
"We doubled the amount of research, we started and have some major initiatives around housing and R1 that are well on their way.”
White has been a champion of having UAF recognized as what’s called an “R1” university, in the top tier for research institutions. That means international prestige, but it could be a heavy lift, as it requires attracting and graduating more doctorates.
“The institution really is an R1 institution. We just are smaller academically. But we're getting there. Getting over the hill of having 70 PhDs per year,” he said.
There is a robust steering committee of faculty, student and administrators directing the R1 process. White says it will happen without him, in the next five years.
He said recent turmoil with federal cutbacks and eliminating diversity language did not factor into his decision to leave.
“The board had their motion and, and we made the changes. But we continue to support all students and we continue to be a place of belonging,” he said.
UAF is the state’s scientific and academic research hub. White ticked off Arctic security, understanding the environment, engineering, geo-physics, fisheries and hibernation-medical research.
The Fairbanks and Alaska Chambers of Commerce call it an economic engine for the state. White says UAF spends about $500 million dollars a year, mostly in Fairbanks.
“I don't want to be Pollyanna about kind of the, the strength of the institution, but it is nationally well positioned and I think that's important to remember," he said.
"We don't know exactly how the federal landscape will shake out with respect to research overall, we know that research will continue to be needed by the country and it'll continue to be needed by the world.”
White has overseen some initiatives that are still being crafted, that others will finish after he leaves.
“Things that are undone: I really want to see the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous studies center be built. We are on the cusp of our new childcare facility in the U Park, which has been a real push over the last six, seven years. We are talking about new housing in the next three to five years. And I just look forward to being able to watch from the sidelines and see those get done.”
Dan White is known for wearing a Nanooks ball cap every where he goes, even while dressed in a suit. It’s a symbol of his support for the university.
“How could you not be a cheerleader for UAF? It's an amazing institution full of amazing people, with an amazing community that supports it. I have also found that a ball cap makes you more approachable.”
White’s wife also recently retired from the university. He has a daughter who is attending UAF, so he plans to stay connected.
