Lucy Sankey Russell, vice provost and chief of staff in the provost’s office, plans to retire effective June 12, according to an announcement by Interim Provost Joe McCarthy.

Russell came to Pitt and the Office of the Provost in 2018, serving as an adviser on matters of policy, academic affairs, procedural issues and strategic and fundraising initiatives. She has been involved in the reinvigoration of the Provost's Advisory Committee on Women's Concerns, progress in Human Resource operations in the Office of the Provost and leadership around Commencement ceremonies. She also has served as chair of the Learning Spaces Management Committee and as liaison to  committees of the Board of Trustees.

McCarthy said Russell’s “contributions to our progress have been significant — always well-thought-out, articulate, and on point to help us chart many dialogues to move us forward. I thank her so much for all that she has contributed to the University community.”

Prior to coming to Pitt, Russell served as associate dean for strategic initiatives at Boston University; as assistant vice provost for undergraduate studies at the University of Kansas; and as director of the Center for Undergraduate Excellence at the University of Virginia.