Kenai Peninsula College announces new director

Dear UAA Community,

On behalf of the chancellor, I am pleased to announce that Karen Davis O'Hara, Ph.D., has been selected to serve as the new Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) director. Dr. O'Hara was born and raised in Alaska, graduating from Soldotna High School before attending the University of California, Davis, where she completed her bachelor's and doctoral degrees in human development.

Dr. O'Hara worked at California State University, Sacramento for 22 years, where she specialized in teaching and research on children's emotional development and its relations to psychobiology. She held the positions of professor, department chair and associate dean of instruction and student success for the College of Education. Dr. O'Hara then became the executive dean of Sierra College - Nevada County Campus in Grass Valley, California. In her role as executive dean, she fostered relationships throughout the local community and increased student enrollment.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. O'Hara as the new KPC director. Because of her deep understanding of the Kenai Peninsula and Alaska, I am excited to see how Dr. O'Hara will lead KPC and UAA forward. She will begin her role Aug. 3, 2026.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Brian Partridge for guiding KPC for the past year. His leadership and support helped maintain KPC's growth during this period of change.

Sincerely,

Denise Runge
UAA Provost