Skip to Navigation
University of Pittsburgh
Print This Page Print this pages

February 4, 2016

HR head to retire

ron.frischAssociate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Ronald Frisch has announced he will retire July 1 after 21 years at the University.

Chancellor Patrick Gallagher, in comments to Senate Council in January, said Frisch would be missed, and asked for help in developing a candidate profile for the search for a successor.
“A search process will be underway. … We will be asking for help and representation from across the University to help us with that process,” he said, adding that Frisch has agreed to assist with the transition.

“The University is a people business, so I think this is a really critical position,” the chancellor said. He asked members of the University community to forward feedback via Kathy Humphrey, senior vice chancellor for engagement and chief of staff, on “key characteristics you think we need to have in our leadership for staff development, staff support, hiring and so forth.”

Rich Colwell, president of the Staff Association Council (SAC), commended Frisch’s devotion to the University and to the staff here, adding that his successor will need to be accessible, approachable and able to appreciate staff concerns and interests.

“It will need to be someone who will work with us,” Colwell said, citing the close working relationship Frisch fostered with SAC leaders.

“I look at Ron as a friend, then I look at him as associate vice chancellor for Human Resources,” Colwell said.

In a message announcing Frisch’s retirement plans, Arthur G. Ramicone, senior vice chancellor and chief financial officer, cited Frisch’s “consistent upbeat view of the world, endless enthusiasm for each day and unwavering commitment to the University.”

Ramicone stated: “Throughout Ron’s career at Pitt, he has been instrumental in rebuilding the HR function into a modern forward-thinking department offering a number of services to the University community. Ron has served and chaired several University committees, fostering a shared positive relationship with the University Senate’s benefits and welfare committee, a transparency with the medical advisory committee, and established a long-standing mentoring relationship with the Staff Association Council. Ron has developed new and enhanced relationships with the UPMC-provided health plan, re-energized a stronger partnership with our retirement provider, and built an expansive interdisciplinary organization that embodies a philosophy of customer service.”

Frisch came to Pitt in 1995 as director of compensation and benefits from Deloitte & Touche, where he was a group/regional director of human resources.

He was named Pitt’s interim associate vice chancellor for Human Resources in July 1996. The appointment was made permanent in February 1998.

—Kimberly K. Barlow

 

 

 


Leave a Reply