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February 8, 2001

Nursing dean needs fundraising credentials, search committee told

The School of Nursing is better than 70 percent of the way toward meeting its $3.1 million goal in the University's capital campaign, Pitt trustee Roger Glunt reported at a Feb. 1 hearing sponsored by the committee searching for a new nursing dean.

To continue progress made under outgoing Dean Ellen Rudy, the school's next dean likewise should have strong credentials in fundraising and alumni relations, said Glunt, who serves on the nursing school Board of Visitors and chairs the school's capital campaign committee.

"Our school has made a lot of progress in recent years in cultivating alumni to support the school in many ways, including time, talent and treasure," Glunt said. "I strongly urge you to look at dean candidates who understand the importance of development and alumni relations."

Search committee chairperson Patricia D. Kroboth said a number of other people have echoed Glunt's advice — in addition to saying the new dean should demonstrate strong research and teaching credentials, leadership skills, sensitivity to community health needs, and a commitment to strengthening the school's links with non-degree granting nursing schools in western Pennsylvania.

The search committee has received more than 40 nominations so far, including some in-house and/or minority candidates, according to Kroboth.

"We hope to begin face-to-face interviews with candidates by mid-March," said Kroboth, who is professor and chairperson of the School of Pharmacy's pharmaceutical sciences department.

The committee plans to recommend finalists by mid-May to Arthur S. Levine, senior vice chancellor for the Health Sciences. Levine wants to have the new nursing dean in place by July 1.

"It's a tight time frame, but we're optimistic about meeting the deadline," Kroboth said.

She urged faculty, students, staff and alumni to nominate dean candidates in writing (send letters to Kroboth at 903 Salk Hall, Pittsburgh 15261) or via e-mail (krobothp@msx.upmc.edu).

During the Feb. 1 search committee hearing, Nathan Hershey, a Graduate School of Public Health professor and president of Pitt's University Senate, nominated Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, chairperson of nursing's Department of Health and Community Systems.

Hershey served with Dunbar-Jacob on the search committee for Pitt's senior vice chancellor for Health Sciences. "I was very impressed," Hershey said. "She probably talked less than anyone else on the committee but made more valuable contributions to the discussion."

Susan Ahlbrecht, an associate professor in health and community systems, seconded Hershey's assessment, praising Dunbar-Jacob's leadership and creativity. "She's done a fantastic job as chairperson. She'd be an excellent dean," Ahlbrecht said.

Ellen Rudy, dean since 1991, will resign at the end of the current academic year. She plans to move to Columbus, Ohio, to be closer to family members.

— Bruce Steele


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