University Times

The Board of Trustees approved two new administrators and a permanent post for a third at its winter meeting on Feb. 26.

Kenyon Bonner

• Gregory Scott, assistant vice president for finance and business at Penn State, was appointed senior vice chancellor for business and operations at Pitt effective April 1.

The board’s compensation committee, in a March 1 meeting, set Scott’s salary at $325,000. The committee was required to set Scott’s salary at a public meeting because he is an officer of the University.

• Susan Rogers, currently vice president for university advancement at the University of Texas-Dallas, will start as vice chancellor for communications on March 31, replacing the retiring Ken Service.

• Kenyon Bonner, interim vice provost and dean of students since January 2015, was given the post officially effective March 1.

Scott will oversee the University’s human resources, facilities management, public safety and auxiliary services departments.

He has been at Penn State since 2001, beginning as manager of construction services in the Office of Physical Plant. In 2005, he was promoted to director of commonwealth services in the same office, where he oversaw asset management, capital planning, master planning and project management for Penn State’s 20 campuses and external facilities.

He is a U.S. Navy veteran, beginning as an officer in the Civil Engineering Corps in 1991 and serving as assistant resident officer in charge of construction in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and as assistant public works officer in Indian Head, Md. His first academic post was director of project management for Rutgers in 1997.

Susan Rogers

Scott received a BS in civil engineering from Penn State and an MBA from National University.

Chancellor Patrick Gallagher ended his introduction of Scott by joking: “We’re going to watch you carefully at the Penn State-Pitt game.”

As a member of the chancellor’s staff, Rogers will report to Senior Vice Chancellor for Engagement and Chief of Staff Kathy Humphrey.

According to a University statement, Rogers will “provide guidance and expertise in communications and marketing to the chancellor and senior leadership of the University and reorganize and lead the communications staff.”

Said Chancellor Patrick Gallagher in the statement: “It’s absolutely necessary to the success of our strategic-planning efforts to have a coherent, collaborative approach to sharing our story, and Susan brings a long and successful experience in translating complex ideas and concepts into messages that support institutional advancement.”

Rogers began her stint at UT-Dallas in 2006 as vice president for communications, where she founded the campus Office of Communications. She became vice president for university advancement there in 2015, leading the reorganization of two university divisions to improve the campus’ efforts in marketing, communications, development, periodicals, web services, alumni relations, corporate and foundation relations, donor stewardship and events management.

Her previous academic appointments included associate vice chancellor for university relations in the Office of Advancement at the University of Arkansas, director of marketing and communications in the Office of Development at Stanford and associate vice president for marketing and communications at the University of North Texas.

Rogers also has been a consultant to nonprofits and worked as a reporter and editor at the Dallas Morning News, Miami Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, Associated Press and D Magazine.

Gregory Scott

She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas-Austin.

Bonner has been at Pitt for 12 years. He was associate dean of students in Student Affairs, in addition to serving as director of student life and, previously, director of the RISE mentoring program. His first job at Pitt was assistant director of residence life.

Prior to that he worked in the Department of Residence Services at Kent State, where he earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and philosophy from Washington & Jefferson College.

Provost Patricia E. Beeson praised Bonner in a statement: “His leadership has been demonstrated through his significant contributions to the development, implementation and ongoing assessment of Pitt’s most innovative and successful co-curricular programs.”

Bonner also has served the University as the liaison to the Board of Trustees student affairs committee; a member of the Council of Deans, Senate Council and the undergraduate education task force; and co-chair of the enrollment management committee.

In other board news: Bylaw changes were approved to update University officer titles and the names of standing committees; implement committee chair term limits; and allow for the appointment of committee vice chairs and ad hoc and standing committees.

—Marty Levine