Dean of Students Carla Panzella has added the title of associate vice provost, as of Dec. 1, according to an announcement from Provost Ann Cudd.

In that capacity, she will serve as liaison to the Office of the Provost to support the provost’s academic team, with a focus on maximizing the impact of student success programs for minoritized, first-generation, and Pell-eligible students, such as the Provost Academy, Strada Grant, Kessler Scholars, and McNair Scholars Program, as well as supporting graduate and professional students. 

She will also serve as a liaison to the office’s data analytics team, leading efforts to collect and analyze qualitative data to provide a holistic understanding of the student experience.  

Panzella, who came to Pitt in August 2021 from Salem State University in Salem, Mass., holds a Ph.D. in higher education from Seton Hall University, where she completed her dissertation on “Postsecondary Pathways: A Study of Low-income Black and Latino Students.” She earned her master’s in organizational psychology and leadership from the Teachers College of Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, N.J.

In her new role, Panzella will continue to report directly to Vice Provost for Student Affairs Kenyon Bonner. She also will continue to oversee overseeing the Student Experience, Community and Inclusion, Student Engagement and Professional Development, and Student Wellness teams within the Division of Student Affairs.