(Anchorage, Alaska) – January 24, 2017 –
Alaska Pacific University (APU) President Dr. Don Bantz announced his transition yesterday to a President Emeritus position. Dr. Bantz has served as President since March 15, 2010 and leaves a rich legacy at the university.
Dr. Bantz stated, “After seven wonderful years serving as APU’s President, Joan and I are retiring. We can do so knowing that the university now has a strong path to the future because of its new partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and the many years of strong support from the APU community for Alaska’s only private non-profit baccalaureate university. I believe that APU and ANTHC will create a university unlike any other and am excited about the possibilities. I am pleased to remain on as President Emeritus for a short duration to assist with the transition.”
Before serving as the university’s ninth president, Dr. Bantz was the Academic Vice President and Provost of Evergreen College in Olympia Washington. From 1974-1986, Dr. Bantz worked in the community health field in Anchorage with the Alaska Federation of Natives and served as Executive Director of the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center.
APU Board of Trustee Chair LeeAnn Garrick said, “We welcome Dr. Bantz’s transition to President Emeritus and thank him for his seven years of service at APU.”
Dr. Bob Onders* has been named Interim President by the Board of Trustees. Dr. Onders has a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Wyoming, a Doctorate of Medicine from the Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science from Kent State University. Dr. Onders is currently the Medical Director of Community and Health Systems at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. He has held positions as Kodiak Area Native Association Clinical Director and Physician, Clinical Assistant Professor University of Wyoming WWAMI Medical Education and Clinical Adjunct Faculty with the Rocky Mountain College Physician Assistant Program.
About Alaska Pacific University
Our Mission: A small private liberal arts and sciences university providing personalized, experiential, hands-on instruction “in the field” with Alaska as its primary classroom. Our Vision: A leading active learning community igniting personal passion, self-discovery, and deep learning. For more information, please visit www.alaskapacific.edu.
*Please contact Dr. Onders via Michelle Weston 907.268.1014
