Dr. Aparna Palmer, Chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast, Appointed to WICHE Commission

BOULDER, COLORADO — Dr. Aparna Palmer, chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), has been appointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. 

Before joining UAS in 2023, Palmer was a professor of biology for 22 years at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. There she served as faculty senate president, faculty trustee, and assistant vice president for academic affairs. Most recently, she was a vice president at Front Range Community College, which is part of the Colorado Community College System, as the chief executive of the Boulder County campus and as interim chief executive of the Larimer County campus. 

As the UAS chancellor, Palmer utilizes her two decades of experience in higher education to provide strategic leadership in fulfilling the institution’s mission. Under her leadership, UAS has focused on integrating experiential, place-based learning into its offerings and building upon its strengths in marine biology, Indigenous studies, and environmental science.  

“Dr. Palmer brings the perspective of both a tenured faculty member and an academic leader, which gives her deep insight into how higher education systems shape student opportunity and success,” said WICHE President Demarée Michelau. “As chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast, she brings a critical perspective on serving students in rural and remote communities, an essential part of WICHE’s regional role and mission.” 

The WICHE Commission is comprised of 48 Commissioners appointed by governors of 15 Western states and, in the case of the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States, the presidents of three sovereign nations. WICHE Commissioners are leaders in higher education and include state higher education executive officers, college and university presidents, legislators, business and community leaders, and other key partners. Together, they guide WICHE’s strategic direction and assure that the Western Regional Education Compact adopted by the Western states in 1953 is carried out for the benefit of the region.   

“Having seen firsthand how WICHE empowers its member institutions throughout my education and career, I am truly honored to represent Alaska on the Commission,” Palmer said. “I look forward to supporting the Commission’s continued success by using data, partnerships and innovation to lower barriers for students, meet workforce demands, and expand opportunities in communities across the West.” 

Palmer joins Tom Begich, executive director of the Nick Begich Scholarship Intern Fund, representing Alaska on the WICHE Commission.

About the University of Alaska Southeast

The University of Alaska Southeast is a student-centered university that provides instruction in liberal arts, professional, and technical fields. Through immersive, hands-on learning experiences, UAS serves the coastal environments, cultures, economies, and communities of Alaska from campuses in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka. For more about the University of Alaska Southeast, visit uas.alaska.edu.