Fairbanks attorney chosen as UA’s top lawyer

Submitted by Kate Ripley
Phone: (907) 474-7272
12/22/04

University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton announced today that long-time Fairbanks attorney Roger Brunner has been appointed to serve as the university’s general counsel, replacing Jamo Parrish who recently announced his decision to retire.

A search committee of faculty and administrators selected Brunner from among three finalists after conducting a national search. Hamilton said the position attracted a strong pool of candidates.

"Roger rose to the top because he is very intelligent, knows the Alaska legal climate, has a top-notch reputation across the state, and has had experience working with the university on a variety of cases over the years," Hamilton said.

Brunner said he is excited about the new post. He’ll start March 1, 2005, allowing him time to wrap up business in his private practice.

"I’m very honored to be selected from a group of such strong candidates," Brunner said. "I’ve enjoyed being in private practice, representing and helping some great clients. However, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to work at the University of Alaska. I’ll be working with an outstanding group of attorneys at what’s become known as one of the finest law firms in the state."

In this position, Brunner will advise the president, the Board of Regents and university officials across the 16-campus system statewide. He’ll also manage an office of three attorneys.

Brunner has been in private practice in Fairbanks since 1976, after obtaining his law degree from Notre Dame University that same year. He earned his undergraduate degree in computer science and engineering from Michigan State University in 1972. He won the Alaska Bar Association’s professionalism award in 1999. Readers of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner voted Brunner "Best Attorney in Fairbanks" for 2003.

Brunner, 54, is active in Rotary and served as the president of the Fairbanks Rotary Club in 1997. He was born in Illinois and lived in Texas, California and Idaho before starting college. He is married and has two adult children. He’ll earn an annual salary of $145,000 in the position, the median salary for top attorneys at comparable universities across the nation.

A 300 dpi photo of Roger Brunner is available by clicking on www.alaska.edu/opa/eGallery/pages/rBrunner.html