Catherine Koverola, who served as president of Pitt–Bradford and Pitt–Titusville from June 2019 to July 1, 2021, has been named interim director of the Center for African Studies in the University Center for International Studies and a special assistant to the provost.
She came to Pitt in 2019 after serving as a senior advisor and inaugural provost at the African Leadership University in Mauritius, Africa. Last summer, she abruptly resigned from her position as president of the two regional campuses for “personal reasons.” Neither she nor the University had any other comments about her resignation at the time. Koverola continued working as a psychology professor at Pitt–Bradford after stepping down as president.
In her position in the Center for African Studies, she will report to Ariel Armony, vice provost for global affairs and director of UCIS.
She also will work with Lu-in Wang, vice provost for faculty affairs, on reviewing faculty actions, and with Steve Wisniewski, vice provost for budget and analytics, providing her expertise from a regional campus perspective on the development of a strategic enrollment management plan, among other projects.
The Bradford and Titusville campuses have been through a few leaders since Livingston Alexander retired in June 2018 after 15 years as president. Lawrence Feick served as interim president at both campuses until Koverola was hired, and Rick Esch, vice president for business affairs at Pitt–Bradford, is now serving as interim president.
Under Koverola’s leadership, Pitt–Bradford increased its efforts in addressing systemic racism and inequity. She also oversaw the construction of Pitt–Titusville Education and Training Hub, which launched in August 2020.
— Susan Jones
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