Jeffrey Jessee joins UAA as dean of College of Health and vice provost of health programs
by Michelle Saport |
Dear UAA Community,
I am pleased to announce Mr. Jeffrey Jessee will be joining the UAA College of Health as dean of the college and vice provost of health programs.
Mr. Jessee has worked within Alaska's health care sector for more than 35 years. His prior experience includes leading the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority as CEO. The state corporation oversees a half-billion in cash assets and roughly one million acres for the Alaska Mental Health Trust to ensure the state has a comprehensive integrated mental health program.
As CEO, Jessee brought strong administrative skills and a comprehensive understanding of state and federal regulations and laws. He interfaced with state and federal legislators and worked to leverage collaborative funding opportunities with both private and government sources.
His professional accomplishments during his tenure at the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority include leading Bring the Kids Home, an initiative that reduced the number of children placed out of state from 437 to under 100. The eight-year initiative invested over $16 million in trust funds and reallocated nearly $40 million of state and federal Medicaid funding from out-of-state institutions to Alaska-based services. Jessee also played a significant role in other major initiatives.
Jessee currently serves on a number of boards, task forces and committees, such as the Medicaid Redesign Steering Committee, Criminal Justice Commission, State of Alaska Opioid Task Force, Recover Alaska Steering Committee, Criminal Justice Working Group and the Foraker Group.
He is the recipient of the 2016 Cultural Humanitarian Award from the Alaska Psychological Association, the 2015 20 Year Vision and Unity Award from Cook Inlet Tribal Council Inc., and the 2012 "Going to Bat" Advocacy Award from the National Association for Rural Mental Health.
Jessee's experiences working with governmental, health care and nonprofit organizations position him well to lead UAA's College of Health. He succeeds Bill Hogan, who has been with UAA since 2011 and served as dean since January 2013. Hogan will retire at the end of June.
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Jessee to the UAA community.
Sincerely, Sam Gingerich Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
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