Friday, October 9, 2026
By SHANNON O. WELLS
In her report to Faculty Assembly at its Oct. 7 meeting held in Posvar Hall, Senate Council President Kris Kanthak provided updates on the expanded Senate Executive Committee, the search for a new senior vice chancellor for Health Sciences, and the University privacy policy, among other items.
The Senate Expanded Executive Committee will hold its annual fall meeting on Monday, Oct. 12. The committee comprises the Executive Committee, including the Senate president, vice president, committee past president, secretary and Senate director, as well as chairs and co-chairs of the various Senate committees.
“This is the one chance all Senate committee leadership has to get together and talk strategically about how the committees can best work in service to shared governance,” Kanthak noted.
Following the meeting, Chancellor Joan Gabel and Provost Joe McCarthy will join Senate leaders for lunch, “where we can continue that conversation.” She will report back about what was learned at the next Faculty Assembly meeting.
In other news, the election of faculty to the committee searching for a senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and dean of Pitt’s School of Medicine to succeed Anantha Shekhar is complete. “Thanks to all of those who voted, those who ran and those who were selected for this important work.”
A Pitt spokesperson said that the University would announce the composition of the search committee early next week.
“As you know, the SVC for Health Sciences plays an important role in shared governance, particularly at a time when tumult in the federal government affects the conduct of research throughout the campus,” Kanthak said, noting that the Senate's election involvement is codified in Pitt's guidelines for search committees and senior academic administrators. “This is yet another way shared governance via the University Senate is woven into the daily operation of this campus.”
She called it “noteworthy” that the faculty have elected representation on the search committee.
“We are in the room where it happens. We have a seat at the table. Whatever idiom you prefer, we get to help make the important decision for the University's future,” she noted. “This body is unlikely to be involved in the process until it comes time to welcome a new incumbent, but our representatives will be there.”
Kanthak went on to give a “hearty thanks” to the Senate office, including Lori Molinaro, office director; and Linda SantaCasa, administrative assistant, who Kanthak said “make this look easy, but it very much is not. So, thank you.”
In committee business, Kanthak noted that most committees are discussing their goals and agenda for the new academic year. More details will be shared at the next Faculty Assembly meeting on Nov. 4. Items from committees that have already started their work include:
- Campus Utilization, Planning and Services (CUPS), which is continuing its focus on campus safety. “They have been the leaders on many of the issues we'll be discussing with our guests at our (Pitt Police) bureau later today in the meeting,” she said.
- Senate Community Computing and Information Technology committee “continued its ongoing discussions about the future of AI, another topic we've discussed today.” They've also finished their work on the Data Privacy Policy, which is the one policy open for public comment.
The policy addresses how Pitt stores, transmits and processes various types of protected information about University affiliates. It is open for comment until Oct. 28.
Kanthak concluded her report by sharing her ongoing support and fandom of the Pitt Panthers Volleyball Team.
“Once again this semester, (I’m) unilaterally bringing the spirit of shared governance to Pitt volleyball matches,” she said. “You will be pleased to hear that my efforts on your behalf are paying off. (Pitt’s) volleyball team is starting the new season on a 14-game winning streak.
Noting that they have not lost a match this season and “have not so much as dropped a set in over a month,” she said they would take on No. 6-ranked Southern Methodist University that evening at the Petersen Events Center. “All of the cool kids will be there.”
Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
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