Governor names two new members to Board of Regents
January 25, 2011
Mike Powers and Jo Heckman, both of Fairbanks were recently appointed by Gov. Sean
Parnell to the University of Alaska Board of Regents.
The two new regents officially start their eight-year terms on Feb. 7, when outgoing
regents Erik Drygas and Cynthia Henry step down from the board.
The 11-member Board of Regents is the governing body for the entire UA System. The
board approves policy, hires the president, sets tuition and degree programs and must
approve all new large construction projects throughout the 16 campus system.
The governor’s choice to replace Drygas and Henry must still be confirmed by the Alaska
State Legislature.
Heckman is president of Denali State Bank and an alumna of the University of Alaska
Fairbanks. Powers is the chief executive officer of Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and
Denali Center. The next regular board meeting is set for Feb. 17-18 at the University
of Alaska Anchorage. The agenda is still being reviewed, but one highlight will be
a presentation celebrating the 50th anniversary of UAA’s Institute of Social and Economic Research.
To read the governor’s press release about the new regents’ appointments, go to http://www.gov.state.ak.us/parnell/press-room/full-press-release.html?pr=5630.