University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Elaine Maimon will serve as president of Governors State University in University Park, Ill., beginning July 1.

The announcement comes in the wake of speculation that Maimon planned to leave because statewide administrators and her boss, University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton, fought her approach to improving education at UAA.

Hamilton could not be reached Saturday. His spokeswoman said he was somewhere in Alaska, traveling with family.

"These are a lot of rumors and speculation, which does come when there's a high-level person seeking jobs elsewhere," said Kate Ripley, UA spokeswoman.

Maimon isn't resigning because of strained relationships with Hamilton, she said in a telephone interview Saturday.

She took the Illinois job for the opportunities it offers, she said. GSU is leading a national effort to create new doctoral programs to meet the country's professional needs, she said. The university's commitment to serving low-income students transferring from community colleges also attracted her, she said.

Those roles mesh with her career goals of graduating first-generation students and leading universities that play an important role in the community, she said.

"I'm very proud of the legacy we are leaving at UAA and now I can go on to fulfill the themes of my career at GSU," she said.

Among her accomplishments since becoming chancellor in August 2004, Maimon helped secure $55 million from the Legislature to help build UAA's new science building, said Megan Olson, UAA spokeswoman.

Maimon completed the university's first campaign to raise capital money from the community, bringing in $13 million, Maimon said. During her time at UAA, Carnegie Foundation recognized the university as one of 62 "Community Engaged Universities" for such things as its level of outreach and partnerships.

GSU's Board of Trustees made its decision to hire Maimon last week, said chairman Bruce Friefeld. The university originally contacted her about the job, he said.

Calling Maimon "a perfect fit," he said the board liked her philosophy of the university as a "public square" and her commitment to educating traditionally under-served students, he said.

Governors State, founded in 1969 and located near Chicago, has 6,000 students.

Speculation that Maimon planned to leave UAA because of a hostile working relationship with Hamilton and statewide administrators followed news last month that she was a finalist for the Illinois position.

Kerri Morris, UAA's Faculty Senate president, said Saturday that Maimon was at odds with Hamilton and others because she fought to bring more money and resources, such as doctorate programs, to the university. UAA offers no doctorate degrees, she said.

Hamilton wanted to keep the money and doctorate degrees for the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

"He perceives that if UAA has success that equals UAF having failure, and I think we can both succeed," Morris said.

At meetings, Hamilton treated Maimon and her staff rudely, scoffing at accomplishments, refusing to listen to proposals and cutting speakers off, Morris said.

"She's a constructive person," Morris said. "If she's not making a difference she's going to go."

Maimon acknowledged there's an inevitable, day-to-day tension between the university's campuses and the statewide office in Fairbanks over such things as the distribution of resources and the university's mission, she said.

The UAA Faculty Senate passed a unanimous resolution earlier this month asking Hamilton to try to retain Maimon. Students, staff and faculty on the University Assembly endorsed the resolution.

Asked if Hamilton had made that effort, Maimon said: "What I've heard him say is that as a policy, he doesn't like to make retention offers."

She also refused to say if Hamilton asked her to step aside.

"It's just the wrong question," she said. "This is a resignation to take another job."

Maimon, paid $214,000 a year at UAA, said her new post will pay more. How much more?

"We're still working out details," she said.

In a press release issued by UAA on Saturday, Hamilton did say this:

"Chancellor Maimon's tenure was marked by a high level of energy and enthusiasm. We will capitalize on the momentum achieved during her tenure and ensure continuity and stability for all the campuses of the UAA family."

Hamilton will meet with faculty, staff and community leaders before selecting an interim chancellor by the end of February, the release said.

Previous UAA chancellors

Chancellor Years

Lee Gorsuch 1994 -2004

Dr. Donald Behrend 1988-1994

Dr. Donald O'Dowd (and CEO) 1988

Dr. Marvin O. Looney 1987-1988

Dr. Clark D. Ahlberg (interim) 1986-1987

Dr. David Outcalt 1981-1986

Dr. Frank Harrison 1978-1981

Dr. John Lindauer 1976-1978

Dr. Wendell W. Wolfe (acting) 1976, 1978