By SHANNON O. WELLS
When asked how her varied and vibrant career in higher education informed how she values the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education, Chancellor Joan Gabel admitted to a degree of on-the-job learning.
“You think you have a broad perspective until you really meet people who you had no engagement with before — and you live a certain type of life, you may never meet people like that,” she said. “But if you work at a university, eventually you will, just by the breadth of people you encounter.
“And the fact that it’s still happening to me in the type of career I’ve had, the type of life I’ve had, the opportunities that I’ve had, is this constant reminder that that is how we make all of our students better and give them the best chance — by finding that intersection,” she added. “And I don’t know that anything can do that for a person better than the university or college experience can.”
Gabel shared her thoughts relating to diversity, equity and inclusion principles alongside a range of other topics during the “Meet the Chancellor Q&A and Reception” held Oct. 13 in the seventh-floor auditorium of Alumni Hall.
Gabel, who took the reins at Pitt from former Chancellor Patrick Gallagher in July, shared aspects of her experience and vision for Pitt’s future in a conversation with Kris Davitt, senior vice chancellor for philanthropic and alumni engagement. The event was open to the Pitt community and the public, with alumni asked to submit questions as part of their registration.
After introducing the chancellor, Davitt asked Gabel about highlights from a survey message the chancellor emailed to the Pitt community and beyond on July 17, her first day on the job.
Despite what she called a couple of “doozy answers,” Gabel said other more distinct and thoughtful themes emerged, including an “outpouring, as you might imagine, of examples of why this University is precious to the experiences of the people who’ve been here,” as well as families and neighbors, she said. Respondents from several generations shared stories of weddings at Heinz Chapel, meeting their life partners in class, what their education has meant to them, seeing a UPMC doctor who saved their life, “and I can go on and on,” she said.
“It just washes over us, this reminder on a person-by-person basis, what this big, large, complex entity actually does when it’s its best self,” Gabel noted, “(and) when the people who comprise it are their best selves.”
Other responses fell under what Gabel called the “constructive criticism” category.
“We’re at a very interesting time in higher education, and not all that’s positive. Frankly, there are things that people would like for us to do better,” she said, including concerns about affordability, treating employees with fairness and dignity and that students have “optimized next-chapter opportunities no matter what kind of experiences they had before they arrived … or what their identities are.”
Of this “legitimate feedback,” Gabel noted, “it’s not like those things aren’t challenges for us. But the impact of the University on the experiences of people here, how the education advanced them, how being in a highly research-engaged university created unexpected opportunities and what it means for the city of Pittsburgh — just all over the place bubbling up and out. It was just lovely, actually, to read.”
Noting that her son is a Pitt student and her best friend from college is a Pittsburgh native, Gabel said while she brings some familiarity with the University and the city, “obviously coming in this role is sort of a different look than the way you look at it as a parent or as someone visiting the community.”
From her point of view, while Pitt’s reputation is “extremely strong,” the opportunities at the University and “the intersection between the University and the region is even stronger than that,” she said, adding that it’s “in that headwind that I think I’ve had most of my ‘A-ha’ moments that it’s even better than people realize or give it credit for or thought. And I think that’s a tremendous opportunity.”
That said, it remains a challenge to maneuver perception, reality and aspirations onto the same page.
“If you’re up here, and the world thinks you’re here,” Gabel said, gesturing with her hands to symbolize opposing levels, “this is still really nice. There’s nothing wrong with this, but really what you want is for them to be together — to have high standards and everyone expecting those standards. And that’s, I think, where some of our best opportunities are — and by the way, way better than the alternative.”
Responding to a question about what’s ahead and what makes Pitt unique, Gabel didn’t hesitate to acknowledge the “pretty pronounced headwind” all universities will face in the coming years.
“The value proposition of higher education is being questioned: ‘Is it worth it to go to college? And is the investment likely to yield in the way that justifies the expense or the years of time?’ And a lot of people are asking themselves that question,” she said. “And on top of that, you have the question of what it is the University is mission-driven to do for the community.”
When considering opportunities at other universities while she was president of University of Minnesota, Gabel said she wanted to have “real confidence” in the foundation of programs offered, how it optimized its location and how well its students are set up for later success.
“And I think we’re really in good spaces in each of those components. And that really allows you to create something greater than the sum of its parts,” she said. “It doesn’t mean we get it right in every case all the time, and we have room to improve … but if everything were perfect, then there wouldn’t be anything to do, right?
“So, I think the idea of where we are is excellent and where we have the potential to go is excellent,” she added. “And that’s distinct. That is not the case everywhere.”
Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
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