By SUSAN JONES
Just another ho-hum summer here at Pitt, except for a few “minor” personnel changes:
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Joan Gabel took over as Pitt’s 19th chancellor on July 17. In an interview with the University Times just before she started, Gabel said she plans to be “visible and present” on campus as she does a “pulse check” on where Pitt is. She is asking people to send their thoughts and ideas about where Pitt is and where it is going to her directly through a feedback form.
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Joe McCarthy began serving as interim provost on July 1, after Ann Cudd departed for Portland State in Oregon. McCarthy previously was vice provost for undergraduate studies. He told the UTimes that he believes Pitt is resilient enough to weather these leadership changes.
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Adam Leibovich replaced Kathleen Blee as dean of the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences and College of General Studies on July 1. As the former associate dean for research and faculty development in the school, Leibovich brings insider knowledge to his new role. He said in an interview that his first priority is helping faculty, staff and students do their best work.
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Valerie Kinloch departed as dean of the School of Education to become president of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, who came to Pitt last year as associate dean for equity, justice and strategic partnerships, began serving as interim dean on Aug. 1.
Gabel has said that she anticipates the provost search to last an academic year. Candidates from Pitt and across the country will be considered. During these first few months of her tenure, Gabel intends to learn about what kind of provost would best fit Pitt right now.
In addition to the School of Education, the School of Law and the Swanson School of Engineering currently have interim deans. Searches for new deans are anticipated to begin in the fall and extend though the academic year. The intent is to have new deans named in time for them to begin their deanships in the summer of 2024.
Other news from the summer
Staff union files for election: The Staff Union of Pitt, which is being organized under the United Steelworkers banner, on June 5 filed for a union election with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Then on June 28, members of the organizing committee filed an unfair practice charge against the University with the PLRB, alleging some staff were forced to attend mandatory anti-union meetings and that Pitt misclassified some workers as managers and told them they did not have the right to unionize under Pennsylvania law. The PLRB has not ruled on either issue.
Kennywood Day returns: Staff Council brought back Pitt Day at Kennywood in June, attracting nearly 1,500 people. The event was last held in 2019, before the global pandemic.
Hispanic Languages department: The Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences took the unusual step in July of replacing the chair of the Hispanic Languages and Literature department with someone from outside the department — Chris Bonneau, former president of the University Senate and a professor in the Department of Political Science. The school had no comment on why the move was made.
Affirmative action: Pitt reaffirmed its commitment to a diverse student body after the U.S. Supreme Court in late June struck strike down use of affirmative action in higher education admissions. Pitt’s application asks, but does not require, students to specify their ethnicity.
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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