After just under two years in the role, Leslie Gordon says she is stepping down as the campus director for University of Alaska Southeast- Sitka.
“The university is an incredible place to work, I’ve really enjoyed it,” Gordon says. “It’s taught me a lot about leadership, and the staff are incredible. I’m going to miss them but still be really close. I’m not leaving Sitka.”
Gordon began teaching at UAS in 2006 and accepted the campus director position in the spring of 2018.
Before joining the university, she worked for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium for over a decade. Now, she’s returning to SEARHC as the director of performance improvement. She’ll work in the department that makes sure the hospital is meeting the standards that allow it to bill Medicare and Medicaid.
“For example, environment of care or medication management, making sure that a patient is given the correct medication to the correct patient,” says Gordon. “The performance improvement department monitors those standards and ensures compliance with those standards.”
Gordon’s last day at UAS will be December 6.
She says classes for the spring semester are set- and she plans to complete faculty and staff evaluations before she leaves. She says a plan is in place to find an interim and determine next steps for filling her post, with an upcoming visit from the UAS provost, Karen Carey.
“She’s coming to Sitka on Friday to talk to staff and faculty about an interim director, what they want to see for the spring semester while they search for another person,” Gordon says.
She will still be at the helm when the Board of Regents meets in early November to determine next steps for the university system, steps that could include campus consolidation in the wake of major state budget cuts.
Editor’s Note: Following the publication of this story, a UA representative responded and said at the meeting in November the board will be reviewing the FY21 budget and conducting a facilitated workshop to discuss leadership roles and responsibilities, but there are no proposals for campus consolidations.
