University Times

Interim Schulz named director of UCSUR

Richard Schulz, interim director of the University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR) since 1995, has been named permanent director, effective April 1. Schulz, professor of psychiatry in Pitt's School of Medicine, will continue to serve as program director of gerontology, one of UCSUR's core research programs.

In announcing the appointment March 24, Provost James Maher wrote, "I firmly believe that Dr. Schulz is ideally qualified to lead the development of the University Center for Social and Urban Research as it helps the University of Pittsburgh fulfill its aspirations."

Established in 1972, UCSUR carries out basic and applied social science research and coordinates collaborative interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies. Faculty from Pitt's arts and sciences and professional schools participate in the center's research programs. More than 60 agencies and foundations support the basic and applied research of the center.

The center houses five principal research programs with 85 staff members. In addition to gerontology, the core programs are urban and regional analysis, Generations Together, the Office of Child Development and environmental policy studies.

Schulz said he plans to review the organizational structure of the center in collaboration with center staff and the provost, to maintain and strengthen the center's core functions and to expand the search for resources both regionally and nationally.

He also said some consideration would be given to re-configuring the center's program policy advising committee to include persons from outside Pitt.

"I will work closely with faculty and staff of the center as we explore new structural options," Schulz said, "There are no plans to increase the number of core programs at this time. We've brought in many outstanding staff over the last 5-10 years and have developed a much stronger infrastructure," he said. "But it's a goal of mine to expand our links with other [Pitt] schools."

Schulz said that his appointment in psychiatry and adjunct appointments in public health (epidemiology), medicine (Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Center for Bioethics and Health Law, and Center for Health Services Research) and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences help form a natural connection between Pitt's health sciences and UCSUR.

He also holds adjunct appointments in arts and sciences (psychology and sociology). "As director of the center, I function as a bridge between the lower and upper campus," he said.

Schulz earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and German from Dartmouth College in 1970 and a doctorate in social psychology at Duke University in 1974. From 1974 to 1984 he was on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon and then Portland State University. During that time, he held visiting professorships at the University of Mannheim, Germany, and at Northwestern University.

In 1984, he came to Pitt as associate professor of psychiatry and director of gerontology.

In April and May, he will be on sabbatical as Pedersen Endowed Chair visiting professor at Oregon State University.

"These plans were in place quite a while ago, and the provost is graciously allowing me to keep my commitment to it," Schulz said. "But I will be in continual contact with the center during this time."

–Peter Hart