Spring 2026 Honorary Degree Award: Sheri Buretta

Sheri Buretta is a trailblazer in Alaska Native leadership, whose enduring commitment to community, education and cultural preservation has left a lasting impact across the state. As chair of the Chugach Alaska Corporation board of directors for more than 25 years, Buretta has guided one of the most successful Alaska Native corporations to remarkable growth. Her leadership is rooted not only in strategic business acumen but also in a deep sense of responsibility to future generations.

Born in Anchorage with ancestral ties to the Native village of Tatitlek in Prince William Sound, Buretta graduated from UAA in 1991 with a degree in accounting from the College of Business and Public Policy. That education laid the groundwork for her to step into increasingly influential roles across both corporate and civic spheres.

Since assuming board leadership in 1998, Buretta has helped transform Chugach, employing more than 6,000 people and generating hundreds of millions in annual revenue. Under her guidance, Chugach has consistently reinvested in shareholder programs, education and cultural initiatives. She has helped position Chugach not just as an economic engine, but as a community builder, advancing its mission through volunteerism, philanthropy and advocacy. Some of her biggest accomplishments were to include Alaska in the California Carbon market, land deals that conserve and generate profits, drive efforts to create Alaska Native Settlement Trusts and Land exchange legislation, as well as opening enrollment to future generations.

Beyond her role at Chugach, Buretta has served on other influential boards, including the Alaska Federation of Natives, Tatitlek Corporation, Exxon Valdez Oil Public Advisory Council and the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council. Her work with the Chugach Heritage Foundation, the Chugach Museum and Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska has preserved important cultural knowledge and empowered new generations of Alaska Native leaders.

Buretta's impact is especially profound in higher education. From 2015 to 2023, she served on the University of Alaska Board of Regents, including three years as chair. Her tenure was marked by thoughtful, equity-minded leadership focused on student access, educational quality and institutional sustainability. She brought a sharp understanding of financial management and an unwavering belief in the power of education to uplift Alaska Native communities.

Through every role - corporate executive, regent, cultural advocate and mentor - Buretta has embodied the core values of respect, service and stewardship. Her legacy is one of purposeful leadership that not only advances economic development, but honors tradition, builds opportunity and strengthens the fabric of Alaska.