Dr. John Carnegie, director of the University of Alaska Southeast Sitka campus, has submitted his resignation effective at the end of the fiscal year. UAS Chancellor John Pugh will begin a process to name a replacement.

Carnegie said in his resignation letter, "I do not have the energy and stamina to continue." He described his decision as a quality-of-life issue. After a rest, Carnegie plans to return to his primary interest in environmental technology.

"We'll probably leave Sitka after my resignation takes effect," Carnegie said. "That's health and family related." He offered to adjust the specific time of his departure to best meet the needs of UAS and a new director.

"I respect John's decision to seek a change of pace in his life," Chancellor Pugh said. "Under his leadership, the existing strengths of the UAS Sitka campus have increased. John brought vision, expertise and hard work to his position. He will be difficult to replace."

Carnegie said he was pleased with Sitka campus accomplishments during the last two years. He cited the Title III grant to increase access for regional outreach communities, progress in the Environmental Technology program and the Alaska Technical Assistance Training Center. "We also received a second National Science Foundation grant and a Wood Products grant," Carnegie said. He also expects completion of the new addition to the campus building this year.

"I look back and know we've done some good things," Carnegie said. "The campus is positioned to move forward so I don't feel bad about leaving in that regard."

Carnegie came to the UAS Sitka campus in the fall of 1995 to direct the Rural Alaska Sanitation Project, funded by the National Science Foundation, and to initiate the campus's Environmental Technology Program. He became interim campus director in July 1999 and was named director a few months later.

Carnegie has a Ph. D. from Oregon State University and served as department chair for Engineering Technology at Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon from 1975 to 1995.