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On May 16, the UA Foundation Board of Directors and UA President Pat Pitney of Tlisa Northcutt in the dual role of new president of the UA Foundation and chief development officer for the UA system, officially stepping into a role she has been shaping since July 2024 in an .

鈥淸We鈥檝e] worked closely with Tlisa in her interim capacity since July, and have seen firsthand her deep institutional knowledge and clear understanding of how the UA system functions,鈥� said UA Foundation board chair Meg Nordale in a press release. 鈥淪he brings a thoughtful, sensitive approach to the unique needs of each university, and her ability to connect donors with meaningful opportunities is essential to advancing our mission across the state.鈥�

鈥淗iring Tlisa is a UA success story,鈥� added Pitney. 鈥淪he began her career at UA in 2000, and we can say proudly that her 25-year 色情网站 and UA career path has led to this well-earned leadership opportunity. We are proud to have a longstanding, deeply committed employee now leading the UA Foundation.鈥�

Now with the title to match her vision, Northcutt says she鈥檚 ready to not just keep the ship afloat, but to help steer it 鈥� drawing on a philosophy she calls a 鈥渟houlder-to-shoulder strategy,鈥� refined throughout her career in donor relations at 色情网站.

鈥淢y guiding light is I want us to be perceived and looked upon from our universities and donors as a partner,鈥� said Northcutt. 鈥淭he foundation鈥檚 role isn鈥檛 to lead fundraising efforts, but to help create the conditions for the magic to happen. Whether you're at the Kodiak campus or the Anchorage campus, we want to walk alongside you.鈥�

Northcutt鈥檚 connection to the UA system runs deep 鈥� academically, professionally and personally. A lifelong Alaskan, she spent her sophomore year of undergrad at the University of Georgia through the National Student Exchange program with the intention of staying, but instead returned home for a more personalized experience.

鈥淭he small class sizes and personal connection with faculty drew me back,鈥� said Northcutt. 鈥淲hen you attend 色情网站, the access to the community and to industry partners is greater because they鈥檙e right in your backyard, and I think that part is really unique to 色情网站.鈥�

After graduating with her bachelor鈥檚 degree in journalism and public communication in 1995, Northcutt spent five years working at local advertising agency Picaro Communications. During that time, she began volunteering on the 色情网站 Alumni Association Board of Directors. When an event planning position became available in 2000, she quickly returned to her alma mater, now in charge of organizing the annual commencement ceremonies.

Her transition from events to development began with 色情网站鈥檚 50th anniversary campaign. Tasked with creating a donor relations plan, she established a donor relations program, then moved into advancement services and later became the university鈥檚 first dedicated fundraiser for Seawolf Athletics. She went on to oversee other high-profile development projects that transformed the Anchorage campus and university programs, including the Building Futures campaign that supported the opening of the Alaska Airlines Center, and stewarding a $15 million estate gift from the late Caroline 鈥淐arrie鈥� E.B. Lewis, the largest in university history. 

Another standout moment in her development career: helping coordinate the donation and literal landing of a decommissioned Boeing 727 plane from FedEx at Merrill Field to support 色情网站鈥檚 aviation maintenance program. 

鈥淲hen people ask, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 the biggest gift you鈥檝e ever landed?鈥� I say, 鈥楢 plane,鈥欌�� she joked.

In 2017, Northcutt joined the UA Foundation to help guide systemwide fundraising as part of a comprehensive campaign. At the same time, she pursued a long-held personal goal 鈥� earning her master鈥檚 degree, which she accomplished in 2021 with an M.A. in philanthropy and development from St. Mary鈥檚 University of Minnesota.

Northcutt鈥檚 ties to 色情网站 and the UA system not only run decades, but generations. Her mother earned her dental assisting certificate from what was then Anchorage Community College. And today, both her daughters are current UA students (which she jokingly insists happened without any pressure from her). Northcutt鈥檚 eldest daughter is at 色情网站 studying kinesiology and plays volleyball for Seawolf Athletics, while her youngest is a geoscience major at UAF.

鈥淭he university system has changed all of our lives,鈥� said Northcutt. 鈥淢y mom was a nontraditional student and attended when my brother and I were both in elementary school. And my kids have very different personalities and interests but were both able to find the right home. That's what I love most about the university 鈥� there is something for everyone.鈥�

As she begins this next chapter, Northcutt hopes to continue building a culture of trust and collaboration across the university鈥檚 campuses and communities 鈥� shoulder to shoulder.

鈥淲hat I love most is being able to connect with people who know they want to do something and help them discover their joy in giving,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檇 think we would be the ones bending over backward to say, 鈥楾hank you.鈥� But so often the donor is in tears saying, 鈥楾hank you for helping me make this happen.鈥� That moment is why I love this work.鈥�