Chief Human Resources Officer Memry Dahl to Retire in July

June 6, 2025

The News: This week, Chief Human Resources Officer Memry Dahl announced that she has decided to retire on July 11, 2025, to prioritize spending time with her family. During her 3 years with the University, CHRO Dahl has made significant contributions to the system and our human resources infrastructure while also serving as a senior advisor to President Pitney on the Alaska Native Success Initiative (ANSI). 

Noteworthy Achievements: A few of her other notable accomplishments include:

  • Negotiating five labor contracts, including negotiating UA’s first new labor contract in decades in record time,
  • Saving the UA hundreds of thousands of dollars by automating health care open enrollments, and
  • Improving the talent acquisition process across the system.

Building Alaska Native Excellence: CHRO Dahl was also the primary leader of ANSI for the majority of her tenure here, cementing the foundation begun by Pearl Brower, and on which ANSI Senior Director Komakhuk and the other ANSI leads are now expanding. 

President Pitney thanked CHRO for her investment and dedication to UA: “I’m grateful for Mem’s service and dedication to UA and our educational mission. As an alumna, she knows firsthand the opportunities a UA education provides, and she’ll be dearly missed.”

Reflecting on her time with UA, CHRO Dahl shared with HR employees that “This decision has been made so difficult because of the amazing work that I have been able to play a small part of in the past 3 years. I can honestly say - this was a passion project and never a job!”

  • “I am so thankful every day that you have allowed me to play a small role in (our) success. I wish you all nothing but the absolute best and continued success as you continue supporting the critical mission of the University of Alaska.”

What’s Next: President Pitney will appoint an interim CHRO in the coming weeks to serve until a search for a permanent CHRO can be launched.  She has confidence in the senior HR leadership and management team to lead their respective units and contribute to a seamless start of the semester this fall.

  • President Pitney will consult with the Board of Regents, employee governance groups, and other external stakeholders to finalize and begin a process to find UA’s next CHRO before the start of the Fall 2025 Semester.

The Bottom Line: “On behalf of the Board, the UA Leadership Team, and our wider UA Community, thank you, CHRO Dahl, for your dedicated service to our universities and the people of Alaska,” President Pitney said. “While we are sad to see her go later this summer, I’m confident that we’ll be able to build on the progress she’s made during her time here.