University Times

Three new vice provosts have been appointed: Lawrence Feick as vice provost for special projects, Nathan Urban as vice provost for graduate studies and strategic initiatives and Joseph J. McCarthy as vice provost for undergraduate studies.

Lawrence Feick

In his post, which he assumed June 1, Feick will address special projects and coordinate marketing and communications efforts in the provost’s office.

A Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business faculty member since 1982, he has directed the school’s International Business Center and served as its associate and interim dean. He also was instrumental in establishing the College of Business Administration and new master’s degree programs.

From 2007-2015, Feick was senior director of international programs and director of the University Center for International Studies, creating faculty-led study-abroad programs, developing Pitt’s joint engineering institute with Sichuan University and founding the Plus3 joint business and engineering program that received the 2005 Andrew Heiskell Award for excellence and innovation in international education.

Nathan Urban

Urban, who leaves the position now occupied by Feick, will serve as the new vice provost for graduate studies and strategic initiatives, replacing Alberta Sbragia, who continues as vice provost to help with transition efforts. Urban also will the lead provost’s office development efforts.

After many years at Carnegie Mellon University, he joined the Pitt faculty in 2015. As vice provost, Urban helped to personalize the student experience and chaired the search for the new dean of computing and information. He is also co-director of the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, a joint-venture of Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University, associate director of the Brain Institute and professor and vice chair of the Department of Neurobiology.

Joseph J. McCarthy

Joseph J. McCarthy, vice provost for undergraduate studies, takes over following Juan Manfredi’s seven-year term.

McCarthy, William Kepler Whiteford Professor and vice chair for education in the Swanson School of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, joined the faculty in 1998. A deep engagement with undergraduate education has earned him the Carnegie Science University Educator Award for reshaping the chemical engineering curriculum, the Swanson School’s Outstanding Educator Award and the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.

These appointments, announced by Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Patricia E. Beeson, add to a list of key academic hires made over the past year.