Gallagher elected as chair of AAU board of directors

Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher has been elected as chair of the Association of American Universities’ board of directors for a one-year term that started Oct. 26.

“America’s leading research institutions have a powerful role to play in moving our nation forward,” Gallagher said. “AAU is uniquely positioned to support this progress — cultivating not just institutional excellence but entire communities of academic innovation that drive transformative change.”

The AAU is composed of 66 of America’s leading research universities, including Pitt, Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, Yale, Harvard, Penn and Caltech. As chair, Gallagher will help guide AAU’s work and serve as a spokesman for the association, particularly on federal policy issues affecting research universities. He will also represent AAU in discussions with lawmakers, help develop national policy positions and play a significant role in determining the association’s agenda during the coming year.

“Chancellor Gallagher has a remarkable track record in public service and university leadership that will serve him exceptionally well as AAU chair,” said AAU President Barbara Snyder. “He has a keen understanding of the role research universities play in maintaining America’s global competitiveness and leadership in scientific and technological innovation. As the chancellor of a premier public institution, he also knows the valuable contributions research universities make to the health and the economies of their local communities and states.”

Gallagher, who holds a Ph.D. in physics from Pitt, previously served as vice chair of the AAU board. He succeeds Brown University President Christina Paxson, who had served as board chair since October 2020. USC President Carol Folt was elected to serve as vice chair.